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
Well, you were asking if anyone might attack? CSC has 4 riders up front with Sastre and is strting to up the pace. Landis has no one around him from Phonak at the moment.
Rass' 93 don't include the 40 he's picked(ing) up on the first 2 climbs today does it?
HEre we go ... CSC is shredding the Peleton. Sastre, Van De velde, and Schleck are now leading a stretched out Peleton. Landis is tucked right behind Sastre, but has no teammates with him. It is 3 CSC vs Floyd at the moment. Sastre is 2:17 back in the GC
Mercado and Hincapie are shelled and off the back.
Kloden and Liepheimer have joined up with Floyd right behind Sastre. Those 4 are the only GC top 10 at the front at the moment.
From cyclingnews: There is no sign of Phonak riders for Landis, but he looks strong enough to follow the wheels at this point.
Now, I've never understood this. I know having someone to draft off of (even going uphill) makes it easier, but what's the difference if it's your teammate or some other guy? A body to block wind is a body to block wind...
Levi has attacked and gone off out front on his own. Landis is riding with Kloden and 4 other T-Mobile riders.
Leipheimer attacks!
15:18 CEST 119km/63km to go
Leipheimer gets a bit of a gap, but he'll need quite a lot if he's to stay ahead of the bunch on the descent of the Croix de Fer. The American has had his teammates riding on the lower slopes to try to pull the gap back, but now it's time to go.
"I'm going to look out for the break, but I think maybe halfway through the stage will be the moment to go," said Leipheimer to us, who has been true to his word! "I've done this stage already in the Dauphiné, and that's where it worked. Yesterday, Floyd and Klöden were just one level above where I am now, so I'll take it day by day."
I understand that, but with 3 CSC guys taking turns at the front (just to say) why does it matter if the 4th guy is CSC or Phonak or Joe Schlabodnik???
It does include the 20 he has picked up so far today. He is not over la Croix de Fer yet.
Ne comptez pas les poulets jusqu'à ce qu'ils soient vivants!
Non-teammates will work w/ each other, up to a point. But they'd better all be taking their turns up front...
VAn Develde has shelled and Sastre loses another of his riders. No 2 CSC riders, Sastre and Shenck, LAndis and 5 T-mobiles at the front ---- But Kloden looks to be in worse shape than his 4 teammates at the moment, he is struggling to keep up.
This may come down to Sastre, Landis and Levi before the day is over.
Thanks. I know he's not over la Croix de Fer yet... but I'm still counting chickens, regardless.
Chickens for the Chicken?
Levi now almost a minute ahead of Sastre, Kloden and Landis.
Oui
Chickens for the Chicken?
Thank you.
Levi is obviously making his move. He is using what he has left in the tank right now.
Sastre is riding hard, and looks ok, but at what cost to him later?
Kloden looks to be struggling already
The one rider who right now looks the most comfortable is Landis. Even with no teammates around him he is riding smooth and showing no signs of cracking.
Of course will that still be the same as they near the crest --- and the big question, are his teammates really struggling or is he doing what he did in the Pyrenees and doing this climb on his own so they have the legs to help him on the final climb today?
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