Posted on 07/18/2006 10:11:39 PM PDT by nutmeg
Stage 16: Bourg d'Oisans to La Toussuire -182km
Course: If L'Alpe d'Huez does not decide the Tour's likely outcome, then this even tougher day in the Alps should do the job. The survivors first ride the 34km back to the top of the Lautaret, where a left turn takes them another 8.6km at 6.7 percent to the top of the Galibier - the Tour's highest point at 8681 feet above sea level.
After the 35km descent of the Galibier and intermediate Col du Télégraphe, the next 23km is down the Maurienne Valley. Of the remaining 79km, some 47km are uphill, in three separate climbs: the 23km Col de la Croix de Fer, the 6km Col du Mollard and the 18km grind to the finish at La Toussuire. ...) At 4km longer than L'Alpe d'Huez, and at the end of a grueling menu of 17,000 feet of climbing, La Toussuire could well be the "new" Alpe.
History: A stage has never finished at La Toussuire.
Favorites: Given its length, intensity and critical positioning, this stage is almost certain to designate the final podium, so Landis, Evans and Leipheimer will again be vying for ascendancy with Menchov, Sastre, Andreas Klöden and Michael Rogers. It should be spectacular!
Graphics by CyclingNews.com
Dessel is amazing!
17:17 CEST 179km/3km to go
Dessel looks back, and gets caught by Menchov and Leipheimer. Caucchioli and Moreau are also there.
Evans, Kloden and Pereiro get to 4 km to go, with Kloden doing all the work. Pereiro is still going to be in yellow.
Rasmussen is now at 3km to go. Sastre is now suffering.
17:18 CEST
Pereiro now drives with Kloden and Evans. Dessel, Moreau, Caucchioli and Leipehimer have dropped Menchov.
Oh that's an awesome link, thanks!
Le Poulet probably cannot believe that he is going to get to feast on La Toussuire's 30 KOTM points in addition to the other points he has picked up today.
Landis now 9'13" behind, ouch
I bet Landis would like to have back 3-4 minutes of that 30 minutes he gave away to Pereiro a few days ago.
Sastre looks like he has blown himself out!! Perreiro looks amazingly strong. Dessel has fallen back to Levi & co. Floyd is cooked :-(
Yeah, just found it yesterday, shows an illustration of the course, with a marker showing just where they are, plus the animated field of riders' real-time locations are snazzy.
30" between Sastre adn Pereiro now
17:22 - 1km To Go...!
Rasmussen is about to win his second Tour de France stage. He has less than 1km to go and has a lead of over two minutes to Sastre.
Rasmussen is the most aggressive rider of the 16th stage, the new king of the mountains and the stage winner...!
MERCKX is attacking landis who is not 10' behind.
If the race were to stop right now, the GC would look like this (ignoring the third place time bonus)
Pereiro
Sastre +1:25
Dessel +2:16
Kloden +2:19
Evans +2:46
Moreau +6:12
Landis +6:30
OMG! Paul Sherwyn finally just gave Chiu-chou Dessel his props!Bout time, guys.
Pereiro in yellow
Apparently Le Poulet is more than just Le Poulet. He is Le Poulet de Vol.
Thanks to Phonak....
and the Agonizing wait for Landis continues . SOB!
Once Floyd arrives I will figure out the GC.
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