Posted on 07/04/2009 8:09:14 AM PDT by Mom MD
Today is day one! Armstrong riding. Astana is back! Predictions? Other comments? Does someone have the ping list from last year?
Astarloza & Cancellara are in the breakaway group, so the peleton won’t allow the break to remain much longer.
Leaders are starting to arrive in the foothills of the upcoming Cat 2 Col de Mosses.
Astana setting the pace for the peleton, breakaway got up to 4’30”, Astana has reduced that to under 4’ now.
Tom Boonen didn’t start today.
looks like today may be the day they make their move. I will check in after church - at least they will have evening coverage as well (I hope my husband set the dvr to record it)
cant check the iphone in church, but I will be checking as soon as we are done! same here, keep me up to date please.
lol 'Altruism is your middle name'. Damn, they wouldn't go for it, huh?
Gap staying at 4’ or so, gorgeous countryside, climbing out of the valley.
Astana has once again been out front of the Peleton and setting the pace.
Looks like they are willing to let the break crest this climb at around 5 min. They will then up the pace and get the gap back to 4 min or so at the base of the final climb to Verbiers.
I think so, Mom MD. There's no 'controlling the gap' on these hills. Cat 2 @ Mosses described as plateau/climb/plateau/climb, and with a steep descent off the back.
The top 4 will have to stay close over Mosses.
All of Astana at the front. Well, 8 of them, anyway. :<( Sure wish Levi was there!
Yeah, I was so hoping Levi would get on the podium this year.
Looks like Lance is letting the team do the work, he has dropped into the middle of the pack and is conserving his energy.
Looks like 5 min was too much, Astana pulling it back down to the 4:30 area.
I guess the question now is whether Lance or Alberto makes the attack on the final climb.
Question is, who’s going to attack. Phil suggested that LA would attack; response was ‘or Contador’. lol
Contador wasn’t going to take yellow yesterday. The only person capable of taking yellow yesterday was Hincapie. LA was reacting to the comments that Astana was pulling to keep him out of the jersey.
Oh, and good morning, you two. Hopefully more folks will wake up & chime in for Verbier!
Gap is 4’05”.
I am multi-tasking today. TV has the Open chamionship on, and the computer has the Tour on.
Rooting for the old guys today - Lance and Tom Watson!
Helluva story there, w/ Watson in the lead. He’d be the oldest winner by some 15 years, and have the longest time between first win & latest win.
Leaders over the top, pe;eton still climbing.
15:31 - Result Of Col des Mosses
The points of the fifth climb in stage 15 (at 135km) were won by:
1. Pierrick Fedrigo (BBO) 10pts
2. Mikel Astarloza (EUS) 9pts
3. Jurgen van den Broeck (SIL) 8pts
4. David Moncoutie (COF) 7pts
5. Amael Moinard (COF) 6pts
6. Jose Ivan Gutierrez (GCE) 5pts
Gap down to 3’15”, peleton climbed en masse at a rapid pace. Hopefully see LA move up through the peleton on the descent / ride across the valley.
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