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
Do you think Floyd will put time into Sastre on the Descent?
Kloden has rejoined the Maillot Jaune group (+7'04")
A little...
4:46 PM Landis
is now 5:43 ahead of Sastre. Cunego, meanwhile, has attacked. He's fighting for the White Jersey now held by Marcus Fothen. Further back, Kloden has cracked and is being dropped by the yellow jersey.
4:48 PM Cunego charging
He's trying to catch on to Sastre. Again, he's not a GC threat (16th at 17:46) but he's fighting for the best young rider competition.
4:49 PM Landis leading
He has 3km to go to the top of the Joux Plane and has 15km to go to the finish. He leads Sastre by 5:45 and Cunego by 6:20.
4:51 PM Kloden suffering
He's been seriously gapped by the yellow jersey group, which is now 7:10 behind Landis
Gap up to 7:10 now. Sastre struggling but still hovering around 5:45.
1.5 km to go on the climb! Pour it on Floyd!!!
16:51 CEST
Cunego is trying to get up to Sastre, with Moreau now in fourth, alone. Then the Boogerd/Menchov/Evans/Schleck group.
Dessel loses the yellow jersey group again, along with Valjavec. Kloden is fighting hard to keep in contact with Pereiro, Rasmussen and Zuebeldia. Sinkewitz is helping him.
Current race situation
Floyd Landis (Phonak - 11th on GC at 8'08)
Carlos Sastre (CSC) at 5'38
Damiano Cuengo (Lampre) at 6'04
Christophe Moreau (AG2R) at 6'09
Cadel Evans (Davitamon), Michael Boogerd (Rabobank), Denis Menchov (Rabobank), Frank Schleck (CSC) at 6'21
Oscar Pereiro (Caisse d'Epargne)maillot jaune , Michael Rasmussen (Rabobank), Haimar Zubeldia (Euskaltel), Cyril Dessel (AG2R), Andreas Kloden (T-Mobile) at 7'04
Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner), George Hincapie (Discovery), various others
And Dessel has BLOWN!!!
Floyd needs to beat Sastre by 6'18" to gain the yellow correct?
4:54 PM Sastre
now is 5:32 behind Landis. Cunego is at 6:04.
Sastre at 5:30, yellow at 7:04.
Plus the :20 second time bonus for the Landis stage win
1 KM from top... GO FLOYD GO!!!! Then Fly like the wind down the backside baby!!!!
Periero is droping back in time and has lots of race to go.
16:53 - 15km To Go...
Sastre is 5’30" behind Landis at the 15km to go mark. Landis is about to crest the summit of the final climb and descent to Morzine to become the 10th American to win a stage of the Tour de France.
Cunego was at 6’04".
16:49 - Sastre Leads Pereiro By 1’25"
Sastre began the day in 2dn place, 1’50" behind Pereiro. The CSC rider is now 1’25" ahead of the yellow jersey.
16:54 CEST 187.5km/13km to go Landis is 1 km from the summit, and he's still pedalling powerfully, getting a light push from an FDJ fan. Sastre gets some encouragement from another, better looking fan.
Landis is over the top.
Go fast downhill and DO NOT CRASH!!!
Yep. I was including all applicable time bonuses. IIRC< Landis would get 20 seconds for first and Sastre would get 12 for second. The net 8 seconds would take the needed win to 6'10".
16:57 CEST 188.5km/12km to go
Time bonus for the win: 20, 12, 8 seconds. If Landis beats Sastre by 6'00, and Pereiro by 7'38, he'll take yellow.
Landis is at the summit of the Joux Plane with over five minutes on Sastre.
Floyd is an amazing descender -- he could actually gain more time on the downhill.
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