Posted on 07/12/2005 5:26:00 AM PDT by green iguana
14:14 - Lead Drops To 840"
The peloton is now 840" behind the seven escapees. The attack was instigated by Posthuma and Brochard in the first kilometer of the stage. These two riders were joined by Krivtsov at the 3km mark. A counter-attack from Sanchez, Facci, Bortolami and Isasi caught the three early escapees at the 16km mark. 14:09 - Eight Complete Teams
There are only eight teams with a full contingent of nine riders still in the Tour. The complete formations are: Discovery Channel, T-Mobile, Rabobank, Cofidis, Quickstep, Bouyges Telecom, Gerolsteiner and Euskaltel. There are 173 riders still in the race. Todays retiree is Gerrit Glomser. His Lampre-Caffita team-mate Evgeny Petrov didnt take the start after a doping control conducted by the UCI this morning.
CSC with the first breakaway.... Go go..
Heras in trouble...And moreau...
wow..
Heras dropped, Beloki dropped - Disco is hammering!
1:16 behind the lone leader Jaske.
16:47 - About 15 With Armstrongs GroupThere are about 15 riders in the group that includes Lance Armstrong. Some of the riders in this group include: Armstrong, Azevedo, Hincapie, Ullrich, Vinokourov, Mancebo, Evans, Landis, Piepoli, Mazzoleni and Leipheimer.
16:45 - Julich Dropped
Julich and Botero have now been dropped by Armstrongs rapidly-diminishing group.
16:44 - Sastre Caught
Sastre has been caught by the peloton but hes tried again. George Hincapie is leading the pursuit at the time that Moreau, Rogers and Karpets have been dropped.
16:43 - Moreau Dropped
Moreau, Karpets, Garzelli have all been dropped by the peloton with 15km to go.
16:43 - Sastre Attacks Peloton
Carlos Sastre has just attacked the Discovery Channel-led peloton. He has a lead of about 30 meters at this stage and it seems like hes not going to get away from the group thats led by Savoldelli.
Vino in trouble...
16:51 - The Armstrong Group...The riders in the group thats now 100" behind Jaksche are: Armstrong, Hincapie, Popovych, Ullrich, Kloden, Vinokourov, Basso, Mancebo, Evans, Rasmussen, Landis, Piepoli, Kashechkin, Mazzoleni, Leipheimer and Valverde.
16:49 - Rasmussen & Mancebo Also Present
Armstrongs group has just caught Pereiro. The bunch thats being led by Hincapie also includes Mickael Rasmussen and Mancebo. They are 100" behind Jaksche.
16:48 - Azevedo Dropped
Hincapie is now taking over the pace setting of the elite group that has just dropped Azevedo. Valverde is also present. They are 109" behind Jaksche.
Vino has been dropped!
Semper Fi
From Cyclingnew.com - Le Tour site is bogged down...
16:47 CEST
Horner, Julich and Botero are gone. Ullrich looks grim, Vinokourov stony-faced both just on Armstrong's wheel, with three other Discover riders left setting the pace. Mancebo, Valverde, Landis, Leipheimer, Rasmussen, Klöden, Kachechkin and Evans are all still in there.
16:51 CEST
Rasmussen and Valverde look relatively comfortable; Vinokourov has dropped to the back of the group.
Pereiro is caught.
Hincapie drops off, just Popovych left for Armstrong now.
47 sec behind Jaksche.
Ulrich in trouble.
Armstrong alone now...
Armstrong want Basso to in front...
16:52 - Vinokourov DroppedVinokourov has been dropped by the Armstrong group.
16:51 - The Yellow Jersey 739" Behind Leader
Jaksche is now 739" ahead of Voigt and 55" ahead of Armstrongs group.
16:57 CEST
Popovych is putting in a kick, to launch Armstrong, and suddenly it's down to hald a dozen: Basso is on Armstong's wheel, but Ullrich is dropped - T-Mobile are out of it. Rasmussen, Valverde are up there as are Mancebo and Evans. Valverde moves through to take up the pace.
Semper Fi
16:57 CEST
Popovych is putting in a kick, to launch Armstrong, and suddenly it's down to hald a dozen: Basso is on Armstong's wheel, but Ullrich is dropped - T-Mobile are out of it. Rasmussen, Valverde are up there as are Mancebo and Evans. Valverde moves through to take up the pace.
16:58 CEST
Leipheimer and Klöden are the closest chasers now.
17:01 CEST
Jaksche is caught and not unsurprisingly dropped; the group with Armstrong are the leaders on the road now. Ullrich is digging very deep in company with Kachechkin but has lost half a minute already.
Basso dropping off.
Armstrong is impressive.... As expected :-)
Rasmussen in the polka dot is also doing well..
17:05 CEST
Ullrich and Klöden are trying to limit their losses together now.
Armstrong kicks again and this time loses Basso; Mancebo is dislodged but crawls his way back up by ther tips of his fingernails. Rasmussen and Valverde still looking relatively comfortable.
SEmper Fi
17:05 - 7km To GoThe four leaders are now just 7km from the end of the stage. The yellow jersey is 11 minutes behind Armstrongs quartet. The pace up front is being set by Armstrong.
They are 15" ahead of Basso and 50" ahead of Evans...
17:05 CEST
Ullrich and Klöden are trying to limit their losses together now.
Armstrong kicks again and this time loses Basso; Mancebo is dislodged but crawls his way back up by ther tips of his fingernails. Rasmussen and Valverde still looking relatively comfortable.
17:09 CEST
Mancebo is clearly suffering, having trouble holding the line on Valverde's wheel. Rasmussen is on Armstrong's wheel, then the American drops to the back to have a quick gloat at the others. Well, probably to take a bit of a rest, mostly, but there's no harm in showing that you have the strength to move up and down the group at will.
17:08 - 6km To GoArmstrong has just gone to the back of the lead group. He is letting Mancebo set the pace. This quarter has 6km to go in the stage.
17:07 - Valverde Takes Control
The lead group is now being led by Valverde. Armstrong could match the pace and the American has just come forward. Behind him is Rasmussen and Mancebo.
These guys are 113" ahead of Ullrich.
17:15 - Armstrong AgainJaksche is now 55" behind Armstrong, Mancebo, Valverde and Rasmussen. Landis is riding with a group of five riders that is 135" behind Armstrong. Then comes Ullrich and Kloden at 145".
17:14 - Rasmussen Not Taking A Turn
The only rider who hasnt done a turn in the lead group is Rasmussen. The leading quartet are 3km from the finish of the stage.
Rasmussen has just come forward for the first time but it was just a brief turn of pace.
3 km to go! Lance should launch soon!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.