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

[Vision]

After Floyd Landis regained the lead of the Tour de France at the top of L’Alpe d’Huez he decided that he wanted a beer to celebrate the moment. On the road down to his hotel, his team car pulled over and the American traded a yellow jersey for a six-pack of beer with a spectator

Maybe we know why he did so poorly yesterday.

[Ready4Freddy]

My gut feel is that Landis will hold on, but not grab yellow today. I think we're gonna tie the record for 8 different riders to wear the maillot jaune in one Tour.

[green iguana]

16:08 CEST
O'Grady is caught, as he was probably asked to continue riding hard until this climb. He does some work, but Gonchar takes over again and O'Grady falls backthrough the bunch.

Why didn't CSC tell him to sit up earlier and wait? Then he could have helped out on the chase.

[gopwinsin04]

4:10 PM Peloton
is nearing the top of the climb. The gap at the top of the Cote de Chatillon sur Cluses is 8:03

[Eurotwit]

T-mobile have joined the chase.

[commish]

Peleton crests at 8:03. They are making some time back, and more importantly for Sastre, Kloden and co -- Perreiro looks completely shelled, he is toast on Juex Plane. It may not be Floyd when all is said and done, but we will have a new Yellow tonight.

[kevkrom]

7'58"

[Ready4Freddy]

This is surreal, Landis racking up KOM points! LOL

[Republicain]

Yes, if he succeed today, then he will enter in the "légende du tour", for sure. But for the moment he has never won any stage on the Tour...

[af_vet_rr]

Maybe we know why he did so poorly yesterday.

I heard a commentator say it was a food/liquid problem, implying that Landis ran out of steam/energy on the course (that he wasn't eating/hydrating enough). Let's hope he wasn't thinking "Beer, it's what's for dinner!" :)

[commish]

Gap is starting to go back up. 8:05 now.

[leilani]

Come on! Floyd! You can do it! I'd give anything to be able to crawl through that TV screen & stand over there on the side of the road right now to scream my lungs out for him!

[af_vet_rr]

Did Phil just say he's consumed 6 GALLONS of fluid already?

That's what I heard, and I can believe it.

[gopwinsin04]

What a way to enter the history books!

[BaBaStooey]

1 km from the sprint.

[Ready4Freddy]

Or worse yet - 'Beer - breakfast of champions!'

Let's hope he wasn't thinking "Beer, it's what's for dinner!" :)

[commish]

Bernard Hinault said that Floyd looked like he had a Food Crater on the climb yesterday. and based on the amount Floyd is drinking and eating today -- Floyd knows it too.

[gopwinsin04]

16:11 CEST Landis is pedalling at 90-95 rpm, keeping a strong tempo and - importantly - in the aero position

16:12 CEST 171.5km/29km to go Voigt, Gonchar and Vandevelde hammer the peloton on the flat as we approach the foot of the Joux-Peane. This is an 11.8 climb at 8.5% (ouch!!). Things will change there.