Tour de France: Stage 16 Live Thread (Wed, July 19, 2006) Galibier, Croix de Fer, La Toussuire

VeloNews.com ^ | July 19, 2006 | VeloNews.com

[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

[green iguana]

It certainly appears that way. It'll be interesting to read his comments - you know he won't diss anyone.

[Vision]

I told you to keep an eye on Pereiro. Can't wait to see what happens to him and Landis tomorrow.

[BaBaStooey]

How big of a lead would Lance have had at this point?

[Republicain]

Rasmussen is not a "Poulet de vol" (who means nothing) but a "Poulet de compétition" as we say in french :-)

[BaBaStooey]

Whoever writes the English version of letour.fr referred to him as "The Flying Chicken" so I was just running with it.

Le Poulet de Compétition does sound a lot better.

[leilani]

I hadn't realized how emotionally attatched to the idea of Floyd on the podium in Paris I must have gotten until today. I actually had to go outside just now to get my breath back. Yesterday's stage was so fun, today I feel so...punctured, deflated.

[commish]

How big of a lead would Lance have had at this point?

Good question. With this years competition, he may have taken yellow in that first TT and never given it up.

[gopwinsin04]

It just shows how big a part the US Postal/Discovery mountain team crew was to Lance's victories, Floyd practically was all alone out there without any sherpas to guide him up the slopes. (as opposed Team Mobile & CSC)

[green iguana]

Or maybe in the prologue...

[commish]

One thing that is getting lost in all this at the moment is just how badly injured Floyd is too. TO think that he is facing a complete hip replacement after the tour, and has still been able to be such a factor is nothing short of amazing.

[green iguana]

Yeah... I didn't really understand the team aspect on the climbs. Now I do.

[gopwinsin04]

Landis needs to come back with a deeper team next year, just one mountain man with him will not do it.

[leilani]

Cadel Evans could actually slip in under the radar, couldn't he? With your first ITT numbers, plus his performance in the mtns thru today, he's still looking pretty darn good if things don't work out for Kloden.

[green iguana]

I think a bunch are still in it. Tomorrow will be interesting - not a mountaintop finish, but a short (12 km), straight, fast descent so there will be little catching up after the Hors category Col de Joux-Plane.

[Steve_Seattle]

I think people are making too much of the team aspect in today's race - Pereiro didn't have much support, either, but did well. It really comes down to what you have in your own legs, and Landis didn't have enough today. And, to keep things in perspective, 23rd in this stage isn't exactly a flop; it's not good enough for a podium in Paris, but it's nothing to be ashamed of. Chances are that Landis will finish the Tour somewhere between 5 and 8, which is probably about right. Before the race I predicted a top five of Valverde, Kloden, Leipheimer, Evans, and Landis. Too bad Levi had that one bad day, or he might have made the podium . . .

[luv2ski]

I hadn't realized how emotionally attatched to the idea of Floyd on the podium in Paris I must have gotten until today. I actually had to go outside just now to get my breath back. Yesterday's stage was so fun, today I feel so...punctured, deflated.

That's the way I felt after Phonak gave Periero 30 min and the jersey that day last week. I was simply disgusted with them.

[luv2ski]

Good point. I am also a little irked over Landis' bravado yesterday, "The more mountains, the better for me!". Yeah, whatever...

[gopwinsin04]

I wonder if Levi will go for the big break tomorrow after the 1st climb and angle himself podium position or higher

[luv2ski]

Damn! I'm watching the replay again. Do you think Rasmussen is skinny enough? He must have to run around in the shower to get wet! ;-D

[leilani]

That's the way I felt after Phonak gave Periero 30 min and the jersey that day last week. I was simply disgusted with them. And you were so right that Lance "No Gifts" Armstrong would never have even considered doing that, just in case something like today, or worse, were to happen.He'd have hung on to every second like a bulldog with a bone, preparing for the worst case scenario. I don't care how high-tech their training & nutritional regimen is, none of those guys or their big bucks advisers knows when they're going to start bonking out on that road. I know it's unfair to keep comparing everybody to LA (especially the ones with hips that have turned to dust like Floyd), & we can't do it forever, but...aaargh!!!!