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
Made it!!! ;>)
Does nutmeg have a clue as to what happened today? Think she was going to be on the road, wasn't she?
At least he had the yellow shroud for four days.
Did you call your friend's wife and tell her about Lloyd's ride today? ;-D
I think that's what she said, but she always seems to be able to keep up with everything even if she can't post.I'm hoping she gets to have a nice long spa vacation after constructing these threads for us every night.
Oh gosh, only on FR...lol. You watch, some lazy sports journalist is going to steal all these and work 'em into his lead for tomorrow.
Oh, there's no question that Kel is well aware of what's going on. Mike was glued to the set, and she's the sister of a competitive rider out of San Antonio.
And if Bob Roll makes any cracks about a yellow shroud tomorrow, well then we'll know for sure what we've suspected all along: BOBKE=BABA
Cool! Another girl in the club!
LOL! I will demand an OLN Tour de France package for each of us if he does! ;-D
OH!!! I thought that part was cute.
Well, if the Top 5 stay the same tomorrow, I dunno if Landis will actually catch/pass Kloden/Menchov/Evans, they were all 43-49" behind him in Stage 7. But if Pereiro Sio or Sastre drop behind Floyd... heheheh, they were both more than a minute behind. If Floyd shows us his stuff, he's more than capable of catching them.
This reminds me of the ITT a couple of years back when Lance and Jan were only a little over a minute apart. It was raining: hideous conditions. Tha morning of the stage, Lance went out and rode the course, studying every inch of it. Jan watched a video of it on TV from his hotel room. Jan fell on the slick payment of a roundabout and slid into the hay bales. Lance rode carefully and won the Tour that day. I stood for the entire last hour of the ITT. I was so nervous about it- especially with the slick roads! I hope this one isn't like that. I am getting too old for this!
We were up in Boston all day today, got home late. Heading to New Jersey to Sean Hannity's Freedom concert tomorrow, then to NYC on Saturday. We won't be back until very late on Saturday (I think). I have about 60 seconds to check out FR tonight...
We managed to watch a tape of today's stage... well, the last 36 or so kilometers. What a STUNNING performance by Floyd Landis! I cannot wait until I have time to watch the entire stage, and read all of the (600+??) comments on this thread. Somehow, some way, I have GOT to see that TT on Saturday. GO FLOYD!
Talk to you all soon... thank you all for your many kind comments, and thanks again, Aeronaut, for taking over the TDF ping list. :o)
Did he seriously go with a polka-dotted Colnago C50 in honor of the jersey?
~ Blue Jays ~
He did look unbeatable today.
Does your son still keep in touch with him?
Mustard. :)
You have Email.
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