Almost one hour to go, time for Lance to boogity, boogity, boogity up that 10 mile mountain track!
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...
Almost one hour to go, time for Lance to boogity, boogity, boogity up that 10 mile mountain track!