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
17:07 - 2km To Go...
Landis is just 2km away from his first stage win in the Tour de France.
[POUR IT ON!!!]
1 KM TO GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
French Panache my ass!! lmao
Great to see people cheering for Floyd.
This is the one of the most amazing performances I have ever seen.
Go Landis GO.
Fist in the air crossing the finish line picking up another 20 bonus seconds :-)
17:08 CEST
Landis is hammering and is on track to a fantastic stage win. He gives a big push on the pedals, but is careful.
17:09 CEST
Floyd Landis has 500m to go as he reaches the finishing straight. This is the best ride in recent Tour history by any rider.
Less than 1k, up to 5'34"
17:06 - Cunego Destined For Podium...
Damiano Cunego is currently fourth in the stage. He began the day in second place in the youth classification 2’42" behind Fothen (GST). The Italian is now well ahead of the German who has just reached the summit of the Col du Joux-Plane...
5:34 -- 7:14 as Floyd approached the finish
OK, let's hope the clock counts fast.
17:09 CEST Floyd Landis has 500m to go as he reaches the finishing straight. This is the best ride in recent Tour history by any rider.
17:10 CEST 200.5km/0km to go Floyd Landis hammers it top the finish, getting everything he can out of the bike. He clenches his fist in triumph. YES!!! What a brilliant ride.
OLN Phil:
"Landis gets off his bike like he's about to deliver the newspaper"
NO celebration by Floyd...he kept form and powered right across the line. He is back in it folks!!!!!!!!
FLOYD!!! Time for another beer.
17:10 - An Extraordinary Victory For Landis...!
A day after he lost 10’04" to the stage winner, Floyd Landis is the hero of the Tour de France. He may not be back in yellow at the end of stage 17 but he is a winner. He has just finished the 200.5km stage in 5h23’36" - an average speed of 37.15km/h!
Floyd looks like he's going to deliver another message Saturday.
OK
I believe we need Sastre at +6'18"
Sastre loosing time now on the descent.
Question is:
How much.
What an amazing ride today.
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