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
OLN's US coverage of Stage 17 starts Thursday at 7:30am ET/ 4:30am PT
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Geez, I had committed to driving a friend around town today to take care of some stuff, so I had to leave the thread while they were making the 2nd climb. Several hours later I called my best buddy down in San Antonio for an update, his wife Kel answers the phone and says "I'll go get Mike, just a second. Poor Lloyd...", and laid down the phone!!!!
I'm left thinking 'WTF happened!? Did he have a horrible crash!'? Then Mike got on the line and brought me up to speed... what a drag, I'm definitely bummed! :>(
Crazy things have happened in this year's Tour, but Floyd's problem seems terminal. We had hint of it on the first climb when he kept dropping back in the peloton, dunno what that was about but it may well have been a harbinger of things to come. It's not often you see a rider recover from a bonk like that - mentally or physically.
| Pos. | No. | Name | Nat. | Team | Time | Gap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 097 | PEREIRO SIO, Oscar | ESP | CEI | 74:38:05.000 | 00:00:00.000 | |
| 2 | 014 | SASTRE, Carlos | ESP | CSC | 74:39:55.000 | 00:01:50.000 | |
| 3 | 021 | KLÖDEN, Andréas | GER | TMO | 74:40:34.000 | 00:02:29.000 | |
| 4 | 035 | DESSEL, Cyril | FRA | A2R | 74:40:48.000 | 00:02:43.000 | |
| 5 | 061 | EVANS, Cadel | AUS | DVL | 74:41:01.000 | 00:02:56.000 | |
| 6 | 051 | MENCHOV, Denis | RUS | RAB | 74:42:03.000 | 00:03:58.000 | |
| 7 | 026 | ROGERS, Michael | AUS | TMO | 74:44:52.000 | 00:06:47.000 | |
| 8 | 031 | MOREAU, Christophe | FRA | A2R | 74:45:08.000 | 00:07:03.000 | |
| 9 | 041 | LEIPHEIMER, Levi | USA | GST | 74:45:51.000 | 00:07:46.000 | |
| 10 | 129 | ZUBELDIA, Haimar | ESP | EUS | 74:46:11.000 | 00:08:06.000 | |
| 11 | 071 | LANDIS, Floyd | USA | PHO | 74:46:13.000 | 00:08:08.000 |
|
Thanks, ET. Landis bonked at the first attack on the last climb, and finished 10' back. :>(
he crashed or just got slow?
Got real slow, couldn't hang with the guys when they accelerated
LOL!
AHHH! well, maybe him or the other American will win... It would be funny to see the frogs reaction. :)
I echo the thoughts of Ready4Freddy.
Thank you Nutmeg so much for all the work you have done again for the tour de France this year. Tusen Takk.
May your efforts be crowned with an American on the podium in Paris :-)
As for the stage yesterday. I said I wanted some action at the bottom of the last climb, and boy, did I get it. It was sad to see Landis totally run out of steam.
Could set up an exiting stage today though, as riders will have the last opportunity before the timetrial to take some time from Perreiro Sio.
Cheers.
I agree.
Kloden looks strong. He's my man to take it all now.
Off course, 24 hours ago it was Landis, so things might change :-)
Cheers.
Wow.
What a start.
Landis attacking from the start, and he is leaving Perreiro behind..
13:32 - Landis Driving...!
Landis has oblitorated the peloton. He has just dropped the yellow jersey on the Col des Saissies. There are only about six riders with the former race leader.
He is now attacking again.
I think the rest of the favourites are in shock.
Landis is nuts!! :-)
Gotta love his guts though.
13:35 - Rogers Chasing Landis...
Landis has a lead on the other overall favourites of about 200 meters. Rogers is now attempting to bridge the gap to the Phonak team leader.
13:35 - Landis Goes Ahead Alone...
Landis is now on his own and is off in pursuit of the 11 leaders. He is clearly angry after yesterday’s stage and determined to make amends for his 10’04" loss to Rasmussen.
Landis is now close to a minute ahead.
Anybody watching this? :-)
Good luck to him. Once again, he'll have to do it without any teammates.
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