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
Landis now must be just about tied for third with Kloden!
Oh, I agree -- and if he fully intends to go it alone, the sooner he sheds himself of them, the better (what with there being a CSC and TMO rider in there). But if he can get just even a few seconds of them breaking headwind for him as he goes through them, hopefully it will help him just that much more.
Dam, what a show. Floyd has not only caught the lead group -- he is now Shredding them apart as well. No matter what happens the rest of the day, Floyd Landis has just stamped himself at least a blurb in Tour history the next time they race this stage.
I'm seeing Floyd with a 4:05 lead. He is 1:20 behind the leader.
The peloton is 5:30 behind the leader. The leader is Patrice Hagland of Credit Agricole.
That should be 4'05" not 5'30" -- the larger number was Halgand's lead over that group.
Ooops.
I thought Landis was in the lead, but he is only 3.30 minutes ahead. Is that right?
Virtual GC update:
Pos. N° Name Surname Team Nat. Gaps
1 097 PEREIRO SIO Oscar CEI ESP
2 014 SASTRE Carlos CSC ESP 01' 50"
3 021 KLÖDEN Andréas TMO GER 02' 29"
4 035 DESSEL Cyril A2R FRA 02' 43"
5 061 EVANS Cadel DVL AUS 02' 56"
6 071 LANDIS Floyd PHO USA 04' 41"
I just realised it.
I am getting too excited for my own good :-)
OK..they seem to be finally getting the splits nailed down. The 5:25 split is to Hagland. FLoyd is around 3:30 ahead of the Yellow Jersey.
YEah..LeTour had the lead group together. They just updated to show Hagland solo, and the Group second.
Landis took a sip of water as he rolled past the 10 others from the escape group. He then went straight to the front, had a quick word with Sinkewitz and set off in pursuit of Halgand.
I don't know if you are looking at these, but they help a lot
http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/tdf/ssi/live1/index.html?rfrsh=30
http://www.letour.fr/2006/TDF/LIVE/us/1700/dprofil.html
Right now Landis looks really strong. We all hope he can keep it up.
Velonews is saying that Garate seems to be willing to help Landis try to bridge to Halgand. OBviously O'Grady and Sinkewitz will do absolutely nothing to help Landis.
Here are the riders from the non-leader teams in the group with Landis:
006 - PADRNOS Pavel (CZE, DSC)
086 - RIGHI Daniele (ITA, LAM)
104 - GARATE Juan Manuel (ESP, QSI)
Landis blew up the chase group of 10 riders (now 11). Five stayed with Floyd, and five got dropped.
Floyd has not only caught the lead group -- he is now Shredding them apart as well.
I wonder if that word was "Cya later, I have a leader to catch".
THis is neat to watch even if it doesn't last. OBviously Floyd decided that today was do or die. He will either make a legendary break and put himself in position to attack the TT, or he will completely blow out on Joux de Plane.
What did he say was the problem then???
Floyd just dropped Garate.
The best thing Sinkewitz or O'Grady could do right now is use up their energy and try to attack Landis, to get him to use up his before the final climb.
I know those guys were put in the break so they could float back and help their leaders on the last climb, but it is time to change strategy.
He didn't say, just had a bad day
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