Tour de France: Stage 17 Live Thread (Thursday, July 20, 2006) Col de Joux-Plane

VeloNews.com ^ | July 20, 2006 | VeloNews.com

[nutmeg]

Stage 17: St. Jean de Maurienne to Morzine-Avoriaz -200.5km

Course: This is almost identical to the stage in 2000 when Marco Pantani attacked on the first climb (the 15km, 6.4-percent Saisies) and forced Armstrong's U.S. Postal squad to chase for 100km over the Aravis, Colombière and Châtillon climbs to the foot of the day's main obstacle: the mighty Col de Joux-Plane (11.7km at 8.7 percent). It was partway up the Joux-Plane that Armstrong bonked and could only watch as Ullrich and others rode away from him, and he conceded almost two minutes by the finish in Morzine.

History: Morzine has seen 13 finishes of the Tour, including that one six years ago, which was the last time the ultra-steep Joux-Plane was climbed in the Tour. The only Tour winner to win a stage into Morzine was Pantani, who scored a solo victory here in 1997, the year before he won the Tour. Morzine's mountaintop neighbor, Avoriaz, has seen stage wins by two other Tour champions, Lucien Van Impe and Bernard Hinault.

Favorites: If riders are still battling for podium spots, then the Joux-Plane climb and descent suits Leipheimer and Landis. But it's more likely that a long-distance break will succeed, giving a rider like Michael Rasmussen a chance to win the stage and the King of the Mountains competition.

Graphics by CyclingNews.com

[commish]

And they are on Col du Colembiere. And Halgand is caught! Now 5:30 on Yellow Jersey. SHOWTIME!

[kevkrom]

Halgand's toast. Landis now up to 5'30" over Yellow jersey group.

[BaBaStooey]

Lead is now 5:30, they have caught the course leader.

Virtual GC update (including bonus seconds):

Pos. N° Name Surname Team Nat. Gaps
1 097 PEREIRO SIO Oscar CEI ESP
2 014 SASTRE Carlos CSC ESP 01' 50"
3 021 KLÖDEN Andréas TMO GER 02' 29"
4 071 LANDIS Floyd PHO USA 02' 34"
5 035 DESSEL Cyril A2R FRA 02' 43"
6 061 EVANS Cadel DVL AUS 02' 56"

[commish]

And O'GRADY has been dropped already. Hagland, Sinkewitz, Righi all that is left with Landis.

[kevkrom]

Righi dropped.

[BaBaStooey]

Righi dropped as well.

The lead group is three: Landis, Hagland, Sinkewitz.

[Eurotwit]

Landis changing bikes.

My heart stopped there for a second.

[commish]

If Floyd puts more time into the Yellow on this climb we could be talking about this stage for years. Still and all, there is a lot of descent and the fairly flat land for the Peleton to charge before Joux de Plane. Surely, Floyd will have to back off and regain his legs during that period.

Of course in 2000, Pantini made the Peleton chase him across to Joux de Plane, and it was Lance Armstrong who popped on the climb.

[Ready4Freddy]

15:05 - 75km To Go...

Landis, Sinkewitz and Halgand are 75km from the end of the 200.5km stage. They are currently on the Col de la Colombiere, a 11.8km long ascent that has an average gradient of 5.8 per cent. Its summit is at the 134km mark.

15:04 - Landis Riding Like He’s Got Something To Steal...

Landis began the stage in 11th place on general classification. He collapsed in stage 16 and lost 10’04" to the winner yesterday; slipping to 8’08" behind the overall leader. Today he began his move at the base of the first climb and he’s been riding as though he plans on stealing back the lead of the Tour de France.

[Eurotwit]

The interesting thing is that Landis really gained some time on the descent from Col des Saisies.

If he can do the same down from Col de la Colombière, well....

[leilani]

5 035 DESSEL Cyril A2R FRA 02' 43"

I just don't understand how nobody else just loves the dickens out of this little guy. Cereal Diesel - The Breakfast of Champions!

[commish]

No matter what happens to Floyd from here to the finish, he has basically shredded the Peleton. One or more of the leaders will Blow out on Joux de Plane because of the chase Landis has forced. I think we could see someone with a 2-5 min lead when today ends.

And we might just see Floyd Landis back within a minute or two of the lead.

[BaBaStooey]

http://www.memoire-du-cyclisme.net/eta_tdf_1994_2003/tdf2000_16.php

Here are the results of that stage. Of course, it was Pantani who quit the Tour that night.

[green iguana]

it was Lance Armstrong who popped on the climb.

That was the time he forgot to eat anything in the feedzone because he felt so strong... Hopefully Floyd won't mazke that mistake.

[kevkrom]

The interesting thing is that Landis really gained some time on the descent from Col des Saisies. If he can do the same down from Col de la Colombière, well....

If he can drop Sinkewitz and Halgand right at the summit that'd probably be best for him -- don't want them getting in the wasy during the descent.

[Eurotwit]

Six minutes now :-)

[commish]

WOW! Le TOur has the gap at 6 Minutes now. And what the hell is going on in the Yellow Group. They are making Perreiro do all the work at the front. THis is amazing -- they look more concerned with Breaking Perreiro than they do with catching Floyd.

[BaBaStooey]

The lead is now 6:01.

Virtual GC update (including bonus seconds):

Pos. N° Name Surname Team Nat. Gaps
1 097 PEREIRO SIO Oscar CEI ESP
2 014 SASTRE Carlos CSC ESP 01' 50"
3 071 LANDIS Floyd PHO USA 02' 03"
4 021 KLÖDEN Andréas TMO GER 02' 29"
5 035 DESSEL Cyril A2R FRA 02' 43"
6 061 EVANS Cadel DVL AUS 02' 56"

[kevkrom]

Six minutes now :-)

The key question is whether or not the peloton is waiting to make a move, or whether they're incapable of doing so...

[kevkrom]

Halgand dropped.