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
Probably not even that much.
He is already now only two minutes behind Kloden.
Well, the 3' 45" gap is certainly helping. :)
A couple of observations.
(1) Phonak was not built to win the Tour, despite having a leader with the potential. The perfect team for Floyd would be himself and eight Axels. Unfortunately, he only has one. The team actually consists of Floyd, Axel, and seven stiffs. The other 7 Phonak guys have been completely invisible for the entire Tour.
(2) Floyd cannot simply make up time on Pereiro. It is very easy to lose time in le Tour but it is tough to gain it. Floyd has to gain on the maillot jaune AND all of the other riders ahead of him.
No matter what, you have to admire his guts for trying this, he is showing everyone that he does not know the meaning of the word quit.
Right now, that's exactly what he's doing. All of the other leaders are sitting about 3 and a half minutes back of Landis.
Wow, the asphalt seems slippery. Landis going hard on the downhill.
Only 1'45" behind the breakawy now... it'd probably be better to pass them on a climb than a descent, I would imagine.
Well it sure is an interesting start to the todays stage.
It even looks like Landis gained some time on the descent :-)
But, if he cuts into them bigtime, he will probably make the catch/pass on Col de Aravis.
But, something tells me even if he does, that he will not wait for them. This almost has the feel of a TT for Floyd right now.
Reports now that Landis is only 50 seconds behind the leaders.
THe Yellow Jersey Group is getting serious -- they have upped the pass furiously. Now 2:55 back of Floyd.
And Floyd 4 minutes ahead of Sastre and Co. :-)
hmm?
Norwegian TV reporting the opposite.
Yep.. Le tour had it wrong. They posted 2:55 and now have changed it to 3:55.
Landis cathing the leaders now :-)
catching.
5 minutes 30 sekunds now :-)
Vision, what did he say happened? If he didn't truly bonk out there yesterday, that was one heck of an impression of a guy running on empty.
Wow. Floyd now has 5:30 on the Yellow Jersey. There is no way this can hold. Is there?
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