le Tour 2006

[perseus]

Sastre will hope to make up nearly two minutes on the last climb of the day. But if Menchov of Rabobank want to do anything (make up four minutes), surely they will have to attack on the climb halfway through the race?

Diagram at:

http://www.eurosport.co.uk/cycling/tour-de-france/2006/livefullpage_mtc129677.shtml

Before the start today:

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"
6 051 MENCHOV Denis RAB RUS 03' 58"
7 026 ROGERS Michael TMO AUS 06' 47"
8 031 MOREAU Christophe A2R FRA 07' 03"
9 041 LEIPHEIMER Levi GST USA 07' 46"
10 129 ZUBELDIA Haimar EUS ESP 08' 06"
11 071 LANDIS Floyd PHO USA 08' 08"

 

[perseus]

LANDIS IS WITHIN SIGHT OF THE BREAK-AWAY!! And he has caught them!! Landis is passing them on the right, moving toward the front, sits in the wheel of Padrnos for a second, then moves to the front of the group, as Skinkewitz can only stare at the American, completely befuddled. Must be thinking "what the hell are you doing up here?"

 

[perseus]

It looks like the Tour de France will be won or last this afternoon!?

 

[perseus]

After the second big mountain climb of the day Floyd Landis is now ahead seven minutes of the eight minutes he needs to claw back.

No move from Menchov (out of the running now).

 

[Mr Blobby]

with 45km to go Landis is now 9 minutes ahead of the yellow jersey!!! An amazing ride, but still 2 Hills to climb on this stage.

From the official Tour De France website
"Landis and Sinkewitz are 45km from the finish of the stage. There are two more climbs: the category-three Cote de Chatillon-sur-Cluses (at 162km) and the final ’Hors Category’ col of the 2006 Tour, the Col du Joux-Plane which is 12km from the finish.
The advantage of the leading pair is 9’00" when the peloton was at the 148km mark."

 

[perseus]

landis won't make it...far too much to catch up....

Landis has made up the eight minutes and another minute as well, but now Sastre (too little too late?) and Pereiro (I hope he wins it) are now fighting back and anything can happen on the last climb.

Can Landis maintain his lead? Or at least enough of it to be in with a shout?

Is Sastre all he is cracked up to be? His last chance on the last climb.

Pereiro was nearly 30 minutes behind the leaders at one stage. He has bonked on a climb before.

 

[perseus]

T-MOBILE MOVE TO THE FRONT OF THE PELOTON WITH CSC.... Kessler is right there for Kloeden.


Kloeden cannot be behind Landis in the overall standings at the end of this stage. He is not a climber though. Got to get the Landis lead reduced on the final climb.

Can Landis hold out? Most teams will co-operate to catch him up. All contenders need the lead reduced before the end of the day.

Best text at:

http://www.eurosport.co.uk/cycling/tour-de-france/2006/livefullpage_mtc129677.shtml

 

[perseus]

Last report said that Landis had a lead on the day of 8'46" which is an overall led of 38 seconds an after cycling around France for two weeks and up mountains which make Ben Nevis seem like a hill.

 

[perseus]

Now Landis has an overall lead of three seconds, but by the time you read this, it will probably be nil and Pereiro will be back in the overall lead again.

 

[perseus]

Its all on the last climb with Pereiro and Landis even overall, Sastre nearly two minutes behind, and a few others in with a dog's chance like


3 021 KLOEDEN Andreas TMO GER 02' 29"
4 035 DESSEL Cyril A2R FRA 02' 43"
5 061 EVANS Cadel DVL AUS 02' 56"
6 051 MENCHOV Denis RAB RUS 03' 58"

 

[perseus]

Update, Landis has lost nearly another minute, but the climb has not begun yet. Then it will be every contender for himself.

 

[perseus]

Sastre makes his bid at the bottom of the climb. He needs to gain two minutes on Pereiro and he is up to the fading Landis overall. The other contenders follow, except Menchov.

 

[perseus]

Landis might be bonked !!!!

 

[goldstone]

Twenty-two of the 32 posts so far on this thread are by Perseus. He may as well talk to himself!

 

[perseus]

Landis is NOT bonked (he is fresh as a daisy). Just going up a bloody great mountain and it is extremely close. Seconds in it.

Cadel Evans is making a go of making a few seconds and being in with a podium chance.

 

[perseus]

Sastre reaches the top 10 seconds in overall classification behind leader Pereiro who is one minute 40 seconds to go to get to the top, then its downhill to the finis.

 

[Mr Blobby]

One of the most exciting days of a tour de france for a long time!

Landis has just crossed the line. Will he regain the Yellow jersey

 

[perseus]

Landis will win the stage soon, needing an 8 minute lead over Pereiro to be in the yellow jersey: it could be seven minutes

Sastre will come in five minutes or so later and he needs to be 2 minutes or so ahead of Pereiro for him to get the yellow jersey.

It doesn't get any closer.

 

[perseus]

Cyril Dessel from France has gone flying through the air! Was it a head butt ?? or a scissor kick ?

 

[perseus]

OVERALL STANDING BY POINTS (provisional)

Time of 1st : 80h 08' 49"
Average : 40.528
Kilometres : 3248.6


Pos. N° Name Surname Team Nat. Gaps
1 097 PEREIRO SIO Oscar CEI ESP
2 014 SASTRE Carlos CSC ESP 00' 12"
3 071 LANDIS Floyd PHO USA 00' 30"
4 021 KLÖDEN Andréas TMO GER 02' 29"