Stage 19: Issoire- Le Puy en Velay

[Guest]

Stage 19: Issoire - Le Puy en Velay 153.5 km

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[nikos]

Block Lance from the picture and the race is exciting for the top 10 spots - really tight. Another year of racing for 2nd on up.

[Grasschopper]

Block Lance from the picture and the race is exciting for the top 10 spots - really tight. Another year of racing for 2nd on up.

Which really makes me excited for TdF '06. A long way off but with all these other guys being so close I imagine it will be a great race. Man is that a long way off. :D

[djpluv]

Which really makes me excited for TdF '06. A long way off but with all these other guys being so close I imagine it will be a great race. Man is that a long way off. :D

I just hope that whoever wins isn't overwhelmed with all the "well, you couldn't beat Lance" comments from journalists... they're relentless.

[boredo]

Based on what we've seen during the last few stages, expect Basso, Ullrich (and maybe occasionally Vino) to try and break away from the other GC contenders when there's any sort of climb. Lance will likely simply ride along with Basso again. I think the biggest drama is between Ulrich and Rasmussen for 3rd; Rasumussen was about 2' behind Ulrich in the first ITT, which is close to what his lead is at the moment.

On the other hand, the climbs are much earlier in the stage this time around, which seems to make sustaining any GC-related breakup much more difficult than in the last few stages where we've seen climbs at or near the finish.

[meb]

Based on what we've seen during the last few stages, expect Basso, Ullrich (and maybe occasionally Vino) to try and break away from the other GC contenders when there's any sort of climb. Lance will likely simply ride along with Basso again. I think the biggest drama is between Ulrich and Rasmussen for 3rd; Rasumussen was about 2' behind Ulrich in the first ITT, which is close to what his lead is at the moment.

On the other hand, the climbs are much earlier in the stage this time around, which seems to make sustaining any GC-related breakup much more difficult than in the last few stages where we've seen climbs at or near the finish.

With the need to avoid fatigue with TT the following day, this stage goes to riders who've given up on the GC wanting a stage victory.

Pereiro, maybe Vino or Moreau if they've given up on the GC podium.

[manual_overide]

Sort of off-topic, but I spent a week in Le Puy a few years ago, and just wanted to say how beautiful the city and surrounding area are. Nearly all of the tour updates are quick little blurbs and offer no photos. I wish the updates included more photos so we could see the landscape where these guys are riding. It's breathtaking! I'd post my photos from the trip, but they are 100 miles away from where I am right now, and I don't have them in electronic format.

Interesting trivia: Le Puy is known for it's textile industry and lentils.

[Dinstee]

Quoting Neil from the "Young One's", "Lentils again"?

[Smoothie104]

I've said it before, Luck favors the bold. Those three knuckle heads just looked at each other while Guerini got a 10 second gap immediatley. Casar is a fool. He could have won for france.

[Devil]

Guerini is the man.

[gmason]

I've said it before, Luck favors the bold. Those three knuckle heads just looked at each other while Guerini got a 10 second gap immediatley. Casar is a fool. He could have won for france.
That is a bit harsh.

If you watch closely, Pellizotti has just passed Casar (who was on the left barrier) on the right. He was then boxed in by him and Pereiro. At the same time, Guerini made a fantastically strong break all the way on the other side of the course. By the time Casar saw that, he was out of it. Coupled with the fact that he is not really a sprinter. I don't really think any of them had the juice left to challenge in any case.

Guerini did a great job, and deserved the win without question.

[Dolomiti]

I've said it before, Luck favors the bold. Those three knuckle heads just looked at each other while Guerini got a 10 second gap immediatley. Casar is a fool. He could have won for france.

I didn't get it. It was clear that whoever didn't follow Guerini would not win a stage... and no one did. Nice move by Guerini.

[gcasillo]

Turbo Guerini. Nice.

[gmason]

I didn't get it. It was clear that whoever didn't follow Guerini would not win a stage... and no one did. Nice move by Guerini.
No one seemed to have the legs by that point.

In fact, in an interview with Casar later, it sounded as though everyone thought that the four would cruise over together. That indicates to me that the other three were spent. Not Guerini, however. ;)

[lala]

Now _that_ was a stage race!

[97 Teran]

Yeah, that was a move of beauty. Bravo little fella. And this time he won without some fool knocking his block off, which I'm sure was a welcome change for Beppe.