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
Was it leilani that pointed out that they weren't picking anyone for the Top 5 except Landis?
Now we know why - NOBODY'S got a CLUE!!!
Now you sound like Donald Rumsfeld :-)
LOL!! Or Phil, or Paul, or Bobke... ;>)
Landis’ Spectacular Solo Bid!
Seven riders from the Phonak team came to the front at the base of the first climb when the 11 had their maximum advantage (11’10”). Landis’ team-mates rode until they exploded from their rapid tempo; Pena and Moernhout were the last to blow before Landis himself surged… it was not an attack rather a constant acceleration but it dropped all the major contenders: Kloden, Rogers, Evans, Sastre and Menchov held onto Landis’ wheel for a matter of moments but after 3km of climbing the Phonak team captain had obliterated the race. The other yellow jersey was surrounded by team-mates but could do nothing to respond to Landis’ power.
True dat!!
Ride of His Life: Epic Puts Landis Back Into Contetnion-American Rebounds to Win 17th Stage
MSNBC ^ | 7/20/06 | Pascal Guyot
MORZINE, France - In a stunning turnaround a day after he was all but written off, American rider Floyd Landis moved back into contention at the Tour de France on Thursday, winning the final Alpine stage in a solo finish to jump from 11th to third.
Landis, who lost the leader’s yellow jersey Wednesday after struggling at the uphill finish, bounced back by bursting ahead of the main pack in the first of three tough ascents in the 17th stage.
“After yesterday’s stage I had to do something, because that was a disaster,” Landis told Outdoor Life Network immediately after Thursday’s stage. “The race isn’t over yet. I came here to win the race, and it’s not over yet.”
With the tough Alpine climbs over, Saturday’s individual time trial shapes up as a crucial test in this year’s topsy-turvy Tour. Seven different riders have worn the yellow jersey since the three-week race, which ends Sunday, began July 1.
“I think I can do it,” Landis told OLN. “It’s a long time trial. It’s the only thing left that matters. ... I’m telling you, I want to win the whole race, not just a stage.”
“He reacted like a great champion,” said Frenchman Cyril Dessel, referring to Landis.
The American clenched his right fist in celebration as he crossed the finish and hopped off his bike after completing the 124.3-mile ride in 5 hours, 23 minutes and 36 seconds.
Riders set off from Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne and covered three hard climbs — one of them so hard that it defies classification in cycling’s ranking system — before the speedy descent into Morzine.
Landis erased an extra 30 seconds from his deficit to Pereiro by earning bonus points for winning the stage and placing well in sprints along the course route.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
Youth:
1 081 CUNEGO Damiano LAM ITA 2 042 FOTHEN Marcus GST GER 00' 05"
Climber:
1 058 RASMUSSEN Mickael RAB DEN 163 2 071 LANDIS Floyd PHO USA 131 3 143 DE LA FUENTE David SDV ESP 113 4 014 SASTRE Carlos CSC ESP 99 5 015 SCHLECK Frank CSC LUX 94 6 052 BOOGERD Michael RAB NED 93
Sprinter:
1 065 MC EWEN Robbie DVL AUS 252 2 056 FREIRE Oscar RAB ESP 207
Team:
1 T-MOBILE TEAM 2 TEAM CSC 08' 41" 3 RABOBANK 12' 31" 4 AG2R PREVOYANCE 19' 06"
And shock of all shocks, Landis gets Combatitivity honors today.
Yeah, I had a hunch today.
Wow...damn fine day!
What an amazing example of instinct, strength, endurance, and resolve today’s performance was! I thought Liggett, Roll and Sherwen were going to suffer from three-way commentating heart failure. :)
I may have already told you this, but it came to mind today as I watched Floyd pull away from the peloton … and then from the breakaway ... to go it alone:
Floyd and our son, Dan, used to ride together for the Green Mountain Cyclery team in Ephrata (maybe 12-13 years ago). Floyd was in the Junior (age 17 and under) Expert class, and yet was consistently beating all of the 'experts'.
One day when Dan was in the shop looking for a repair piece, Floyd came in, breathless from a hard ride, needing a piece of his own. The two of them, and the cyclery owner talked for a while, after which the owner asked Floyd (who was at that time still in high school), 'Hey! Today is Thursday. Aren't you supposed to be in school?'
Floyd simply winked, and said, 'Yes. Your point?'
Dan, who was teaching high school Physics at the time, but for some reason had the day off himself, considered, for a split-second, semi-seriously lecturing Floyd about the irresponsibility of his fairly regular truancy, but somehow thought better of it.
Dan called us this morning and left a single, one-sentence message on the answering machine: 'Damn! I should have skipped school more often!' :)
~ joanie
Allegiance and Duty Betrayed
P.S. I still stand by my original prediction. (Would you like ketchup or mustard with your hat? :)
Landis' performance in this stage today is the stuff of legend, and I'm in that same awe usually reserved for Lance himself.
After cracking yesterday and being left for dead, Floyd proves he has the courage and the ability of a true champion.
Legendary...
BTW, what do you think these 2 are gonna be talking about at dinner tonight:
7 035 DESSEL Cyril A2R FRA 04' 24"
8 031 MOREAU Christophe A2R FRA 05' 45"
Can't believe he still came in with that time after the horrific spill he took. Spunky little klutz,my Chou-Chou.
(AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)
REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini (FRANCE)Nothing quite says Big Pimpin Chicken like the pois rouge gloves and socks.
BTW, what do you think these 2 are gonna be talking about at dinner tonight:
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