Posted on 07/21/2004 2:53:35 AM PDT by Aeronaut
Today an individual time trial up the infamous l'Alpe d'Huez.
Today will be an incredible display of individual effort. Ten miles of climbing, no team to help out. Man against the mountain.
I hope you can post results ... I am stuck at work and can't OLN here
maybe Lance can catch and pass Basso
The Super Bowl of cycling, over 1,000,000 spectators..the only sports event visible in space!
live UK race log here http://sports.yahoo.com/sc
1-208 MARTIN (FRA, RAG) 00:43:52.590
2-123 CHARTEAU (FRA, BLB) 00:43:59.390 at 06"
3-043 CANCELLARA (SUI, FAS) 00:45:35.950 at 01' 43"
4-083 HONDO (GER, GST) 00:45:36.060 at 01' 43"
5-022 ELMIGER (SUI, PHO) 00:46:04.860 at 02' 12"
Current leaders. Lance has done this climb in about 37 minutes. But I think that's 37 minutes from the first time check, which is about 2 minutes into the TT. I think...
About 90 of the 155 or so remaining have started.
The all time record in competition in 37.50 right, set by the big Mig? I believe Lance did 38.02 two years ago..
Lance will be working of of Ullrich's and Basso's time marks today. No reason to go into the red zone and chase Mig's record if 39 or 39:30 will do the job today. Lance will push just as far as he has to today to maintain or extend his lead.
Lance knows he can vanquish Basso in the ITT barring unforseen conditions like a howling rainstorm, but it would be cool to see him take the big Mig's competition record of 37:30!
From the Tour website:
14 H 16 - Five Fastest Ascents Up L’Alpe d’Huez
Today is the 24th time that the climb to L’Alpe d’Huez has been a part of the Tour de France’s itinerary. This is the first time that the stage to this ‘Hors Category’ has been a time trial. The five fastest times posted before the 16th stage of the 2004 are:
Marco Pantani (Italy) 37’35” – in 1997 (at the end of a 203.5km stage from Saint-Etienne)
Marco Pantani (Italy) 38’00” – in 1994 (although he was not the winner, this was ‘Il Pirata’s’ time up the climb at the end of the 224.5km stage from Valreas. The winner of the stage that year was Marco’s good friend, Roberto Conti)
Lance Armstrong (US) 38’01” – in 2001 (at the end of a 209km stage from Aix-les-Bains)
Marco Pantani (Italy) 38’04” – in 1995 (at the end of a 162.5km stage from La Plagne)
Iban Mayo (Spain) 39’06” – in 2003 (at the end of a 219km stage from Sallanches)
(Note: This time is taken for the 13.9km climb. Today’s time trial is 15.5km long with a flat early phase in the village of Bourg-d’Oisans.)
Then they also say:
Pantani's Record Time For L'Alpe d'Huez Climb
There are conflicting reports for the record time of today's climb. The official fastest ascent is by Marco Pantani in 1997 (37'35"). Some people have reported that the time taken from the moment the road begins to rise is actually 36'50" - where the 37'35" was taken from the turn from the village of Bourg-d'Oisans at the base of the col.
So heck if I know...
But you need really good eyes to see who the leader is.
Almost one hour to go, time for Lance to boogity, boogity, boogity up that 10 mile mountain track!
At least the astronauts will have a good view!
And in the months leading up to the Tour, Armstrong has practiced by climbing Huez as many as four times in a day!
I'm pretty sure that the climb record starts at the first time check (that's why they put it there.) Right now Martin, who finished in 43.53 was at 2.01 at the first time check, so his climb time was 41.52 - not even close. Should get a lot closer to Pantani's time as it goes on.
3:55 p.m.
Current top times at the finish:
1- MARTIN (F), RAG - 43:52.590
2- CHARTEAU (F), BLB - 43:59.390 at 06"
3- FEDRIGO (F), C.A - 44:01.500 at 08"
4- KRIVTSOV (Ukr), A2R - 44:17.980 at 25"
5- LEFEVRE (F)RA, BLB - 44:38.290 at 45"
Armstrong starts at 4:58 PM
per velonews.com
I am sure he will sweat off that much weight in the first 5 minutes.
The US Postal teams training schedule is amazing, someone said they would climb 7-8 hours per day in the Pyrenees over the stages to be raced.
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