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
He'll hit 60 klicks plus, right?
Right now, neither Sastre nor Landis have enough time on Pereiro. They will both be within 1 minute though which should make Saturday an absolute treat to watch.
Yellow crests at 6:52. Kloden is still climbing, he will be over 7 Minutes.
5:05 PM Yellow jersey group
Crosses the summitt at 6:52... Pereiro still has the jersey by a sliver.
Yep, or even a little faster. You couldn't get me to go 40mph+ on a bike downhill.
Landis has gained 12 seconds on Sastre since the summit.
Go go!!
40 is my best. I can't imagine 65mph.
Floyd is already inside 5KM to go.. Peleton just now reaching 10KM. HE is absolutely flying down this mountain.
A race to Paris perhaps on the Champs? (shades of Lemond)
17:05 - Situation At Summit...
The points at the top of the final ‘Hors Category’ col of the 2006 Tour were won by:
1. Landis (PHO) 40pts
2. Sastre (CSC) 36pts – at 5’05”
3. Moreau (A2R) 32 – at 5’59“
4. Cunego (LAM) 28 – at 6’20“
5. Boogerd (RAB) 24pts
6. Schleck (CSC) 20pts
7. Pereiro (CEI) 16pts
8. Zubeldia (EUS) 14pts
9. Kloden (TMO) 12pts
10. Rasmussen (RAB) 10pts – at 6’50”
Whoosh! I meant 90 klicks. That metric system....
17:05 CEST
Landis is driving down the descent as Dessel comes over the top at 8'20 with Guerini and Valjavec.
17:05 CEST
Landis gives it everything on the descent as Sastre goes over the final false flat over the top of the Joux-Plane.
17:06 CEST 197km/3.5km to go
Landis is within 4 km of the finish, gliding down the Joux-Plan and taking the corners carefully. He has 5'20 on Sastre.
Current race situation
Floyd Landis (Phonak - 11th on GC at 8'08)
Carlos Sastre (CSC) at 5'07
Christophe Moreau (AG2R) at 5'59
Damiano Cuengo (Lampre) at 6'19
Frank Schleck (CSC), Michael Boogerd (Rabobank), Oscar Pereiro (Caisse d'Epargne) maillot jaune, Haimar Zubeldia (Euskaltel), Andreas Kloden, Patrik Sinkewitz (T-Mobile), Michael Boogerd (Rabobank) at 6'52
Denis Menchov, Michael Rasmusssen (Rabobank), Cadel Evans (Davitamon)
Cyril Dessel (AG2R) at 8'18
Floyd is pulling away on the descent. Now 5:20 on Sastre, and back over 7 minutes on Yellow.
Go FLOYD, GO!!!!!!
Lead up to 5'26" (7'12")
OLN and FR coverage of the Tour = It Don't Get No Better
17:07 CEST 198km/2.5km to go
Landis dives into another corner. 3 km left. Just keep it up, and he'll be home.
17:07 CEST 198.5km/2km to go
Sastre is now 5'24 back as Floyd rides a great descent into Morzine. 2 km to go. He gets around that corner that Heras crashed on several years ago.
5:27 --- 7:11 --- GO FLOYD GO. THis one will go down in Le Tour legend folks. What a miraculous ride.
5:29 on Sastre - man Floyd can go downhill!
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