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
Amazing stuff.
Can the miracle last the final climb?
What the hell are they Thinking????
The lead is now 8:19
Virtual GC update (including Floyd's 4 bonus seconds):
Pos. N° Name Surname Team Nat. Gaps
1 071 LANDIS Floyd PHO USA
2 097 PEREIRO SIO Oscar CEI ESP 15"
3 014 SASTRE Carlos CSC ESP 02' 05"
4 021 KLÖDEN Andréas TMO GER 02' 44"
5 035 DESSEL Cyril A2R FRA 02' 58"
6 061 EVANS Cadel DVL AUS 03' 11"
They're thinking that Floyd can't possibly keep this up. Making Pereiro do all the work so that he blows on the last climb and Sastre or Kloden, et al can move up
They're clearly focusing on breaking Pereiro Sio, but are the other leaders just hoping that Landis can't keep up the pace, or are they going to attack up the final climb?
The lead is 8:49. Go ahead and add 0:30 to everyone's time from my last update.
Good analysis. And just as you said, Floyd is absolutely flying down the descent. Has upped the lead to 8:45.
They're clearly focusing on breaking Pereiro Sio, but are the other leaders just hoping that Landis can't keep up the pace, or are they going to attack up the final climb?
I think both.
Landis once had his lung capacity tested as equal to Big Mig, he is bidding for the SI Sportsman of the Year Award here!
No matter whether Landis can keep (or grow) this gap or not, this should go down as an effort for the ages.
OK, 3 Discovery Riders are now at the front of the Peleton. ??leading the chase?? They have no dog in this fight, and Floyd is a former teammate. HMMMMMMM.
9'04"
3:36 PM European Time Guess who is now the virtual leader of the Tour? lol
Looks like CSC has started to up the tempo...
Will be interesting to watch the gap now.
9 MINUTES!!!! and growing. Un-friggin-believable. Can he make it stick?
We are watching sports history unfold before our eyes.
The situation is ripe for Sastre or Kloden to take the maillot jaune out from under Floyd's nose.
If either of them gain enough time on Pereiro and can close the gap Landis has, either can walk away from this thing in yellow. Then it comes down to the final time trial, which would be just plain nuts.
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