Posted on 07/19/2006 9:15:41 PM PDT by 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
Yellow is 7-10%, red >10%
Well, that didn't work too well. 8-(
Thanks, the graphic for Joux-Plane on that .nl site that Vision gave us seems to be FUBARd.
Landis ahead of Sastre now. 6.25 minutes ahead.
6'30"
Floyd is absolutely riding like a man possessed today. This is amazing after the way he struggled yesterday.
Fedrigo is cheating!!!
15:08 CEST
Landis pours water over his head and back again. He's going to keep cool today.
Fedrigo has a bleeding nose, and the race doctor is holding it for him.
Getting pulled along by his nose like that! Not fair!
LOL.
Floyd is absolutely riding like Lance Armstrong today.
7 minutes now.
wow.
So... does Landis have enough for the final climb? Can the peloton make a move? Stay tuned...
With 3km to climb on the Col de la Colombiere, Landis and Sinkewitz are 6’30" ahead of the yellow jersey’s peloton which is still being led by three riders from the Caisse d’Epargne team.
15:16 - Landis & Sinkewitz Lead By 25"
Halgand is 25" behind Landis and Sinkewitz.
The magic number now is 7:39.
That is the lead Floyd needs to take on yellow to take the overall lead back, if you figure he takes first on the upcoming sprint and wins the stage.
7 MINUTES!!!
The lead is now 7:17
Virtual GC update (including bonus seconds):
Pos. N° Name Surname Team Nat. Gaps
1 097 PEREIRO SIO Oscar CEI ESP
2 071 LANDIS Floyd PHO USA 46"
3 014 SASTRE Carlos CSC ESP 01' 50"
4 021 KLÖDEN Andréas TMO GER 02' 29"
5 035 DESSEL Cyril A2R FRA 02' 43"
6 061 EVANS Cadel DVL AUS 02' 56"
15:23 - Landis Leads By 7’10"
Landis and Sinkewitz are 7’10" ahead of the yellow jersey’s peloton 5km from the top of the 3rd climb.
For those gambling.
The odds of a Landis victory was 3-1 yesterday before the stage. After the stage it was up to 110-1. Now it has dropped to 4-1 at betfair and he is their favourite to win the tour :-)
The two stage leaders are less than 1,000m away from the top of the Col de la Colombiere. Sinkewitz has not done a turn of pace but he is the only rider able to match the incredible tempo being tapped out by Landis...
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