Professional Cycling For the Fans - Stage 13 Lannemezan - Plateau de Beille

July 17 205.5 km

.....

The stage that will decide the TDF. 80K of climbing!!!

Where will Voeckler crack? The first cat 1? The second cat 1? Or will he survive until the last HC? I don't know if he'll be able to hold onto yellow after this one...

He may not hold onto yellow, but he isn't gonna crack the way that
everyone expects.

marty

Where will Voeckler crack? The first cat 1? The second cat 1? Or will he survive until the last HC? I don't know if he'll be able to hold onto yellow after this one...

I think most of the race will be together over the first Cat. 1. It will start to break up on the second one, and this is where I think Voeckler will drop off. He gave everything today and his team has given everything for a week. I think he'll finish 7 or 8 minutes back. I'd go with Mayo for the win, he looked pretty good today, but don't discount Lance with 6 teammates to take him over the climbs.

I think most of the race will be together over the first Cat. 1. It will start to break up on the second one, and this is where I think Voeckler will drop off. He gave everything today and his team has given everything for a week. I think he'll finish 7 or 8 minutes back. I'd go with Mayo for the win, he looked pretty good today, but don't discount Lance with 6 teammates to take him over the climbs.

voeckler's looked like he's about to crack on every stage so far, and yet he doesn't, at least not entirely (though he was riding switchbacks up to the line today!). i hope he hangs in there respectably. i'm geeked up about tomorrow. should be quite the showdown!

voeckler's looked like he's about to crack on every stage so far, and yet he doesn't, at least not entirely

He must be doping. :D

How about Jakob Piil? Despite being on the attack nearly the entire Tour, he finished this stage ahead of some big guns like Hamilton. He is now sitting in 8th place on GC, ahead of riders like Sastre, Leipheimer, Ullrich, Hamilton, Heras, Simoni, and Mayo. It may end tomorrow (or it may NOT!), but what an impressive run thus far by the CSC rider. Eh??? :D

How about Jakob Piil? Despite being on the attack nearly the entire Tour, he finished this stage ahead of some big guns like Hamilton. He is now sitting in 8th place on GC, ahead of riders like Sastre, Leipheimer, Ullrich, Hamilton, Heras, Simoni, and Mayo. It may end tomorrow (or it may NOT!), but what an impressive run thus far by the CSC rider. Eh??? :D

csc impresses the crap out of me. it's one of the reasons i'm thinking about a cervelo for my next bike. ;)
with piil, sastre and basso, they look very strong at the moment.

csc impresses the crap out of me. it's one of the reasons i'm thinking about a cervelo for my next bike. ;)
with piil, sastre and basso, they look very strong at the moment.

I'm thinking about hiring Riis as a personal coach. I bet he could help me in the "pharmaceuticals" department. :D

Hell yeah! Mr. 56% himself!

Postal is the team of the tour but CSC is probably the team of the year.

If anyone wants to see the profile of the final climb in particular, go here http://www.memoire-du-cyclisme.net/eta_tdf/Beille.php

I think the Tour will be decided tomorrow, it will be this year main stage. The hype of the Alpe d'Huez stage is just a screen, it will be great but I don't think the time difference between the top contenders will be that great there, may be 1' or 2'. Look at what happened today. Lance will go for the "coup de grace" tomorrow. As of today I only see Basso between Lance and #6. Basso looked really easy at the finish.

What about the day after the Alpe d'Huez stage? How taxing will the ITT up Alpe d'Huez be on the riders. Stage 17 looks really hard too me.

If anyone wants to see the profile of the final climb in particular, go here http://www.memoire-du-cyclisme.net/eta_tdf/Beille.php

that's a great link ... if only I were able to read french. How great would it be to make your life goal to climb all the famous hills of the tour since inception;

ALPES :
Col Bayard (1905)
Côte de Laffrey (1905)
Col de Porte (1907)
Col d'Allos (1911)
Col des Aravis (1911)
Col du Galibier (1911)
Col du Lautaret (1911)
Col du Télégraphe (1911)
Col d'Izoard (1922)
Col de Vars (1922)
Col de Tamié (1933)
Col de l'Iseran (1938)
Col de la Croix de Fer (1947)
Col du Cucheron (1947)
Col du Glandon (1947)
Col de Granier (1947)
Col de La Forclaz (1948)
Col du Grand St Bernard (1949)
Col du Mont-Cenis (1949)
Col de Montgenèvre (1949)
Col des Mosses (1949)
Col du Petit St Bernard (1949)
Col de la Cayolle (1950)
Col de St Nizier (1950)
Col de la Sentinelle (1950)
L'Alpe d'Huez (1952)
Sestrières (Ita) (1952)
Col de Tende (1953)
Col de Plainpalais (1954)
Col de Romeyere (1954)
Lac de Luitel (1956)
Col de Perty (1958)
Col de La Forclaz de Mont.(1958)
Col de la Colombière (1960)
Col de la Bonette (1962)
Mont Revard (1965)
Col d'Ornon (1966)
Sallanches (1968)
Col de la Madeleine (1969)
Crans-Montana (Sui) (1970)
Col du Noyer (1970)
Orcières-Merlette (1971)
Col du Grand Cucheron (1972)
Méribel (1973)
Les Orres (1973)
Mont-Salève (1973)
Mont du Chat (1974)
Avoriaz (1975)
Col des Champs (1975)
Pra-Loup (1975)
Col du Corbier (1975)
Pas de Morgins (1977)
Col de Joux-Plane (1978)
Col du Cormet de Roselend (1978)
Les Menuires (1979)
Col des Saisies (1979)
Prapoutel les Sept Laux (1980)
Col de Joux-Verte (1981)
Le Pleynet (1981)
Col du Coq (1984)
La Plagne (1984)
Col du Rousset (1984)
La Ruchère (1984)
Lans en Vercors (1985)
Col de Granon (1986)
Col de la Chau (1987)
Col de Tourniol (1987)
Villard de Lans (1988)
Le Bettex (1990)
St Gervais-Mont Blanc (1992)
Isola 2000 (1993)
Côte de Héry (1995)
Les Arcs (1996)
Val d'Isère (1996)
Col de la Sentinelle (1996)
Courchevel (1997)
Col de la Croix Fry (1997)
Les Deux Alpes (1998)
Chamrousse (2001)
Portes (2003)
Mont des Princes (2003)
La Ramaz (2003)
Les Gêts (2003)
St Appolinaire (2003)

PYRENEES :
Col des Ares (1910)
Col d'Aspin (1910)
Col d'Aubisque (1910)
Col de Peyresourde (1910)
Col de Port (1910)
Col de Portet d'Aspet (1910)
Col du Tourmalet (1910)
Col du Soulor (1912)
Col de Puymorens (1913)
Cauterets (1953)
Col de Chioula (1955)
Col de Portillon (1957)
Col de Tosas (1957)
Superbagnères (1961)
Port d'Envalira (1964)
Col de Mente (1966)
Font-Romeu (1973)
Puerto de la Bonaiga (Esp) (1974)
Puerto del Canto (Esp) (1974)
Pla d'Adet (1974)
Col des Aussières (1976)
Col de Jau (1976)
Col de Marie-Blanque (1978)
Col de la Core (1984)
Guzet-Neige (1984)
Col de Latrape (1984)
Luz-Ardiden (1985)
Col de Bagargui (1986)
Col de Burdincurucheta (1986)
Col des Bordères (1987)
Col de Soudet (1987)
Col d'Agnes (1988)
Col du Pourtalet (1991)
Col du Somport (1991)
Val-Louron (1991)
Col d'Ordino (And) (1993)
Andorra/Pal (1993)
Lourdes/Hautacam (1993)
Port de Larrau (1996)
Andorre/Arcalis (1997)
Plateau de Beille (1998)
Piau-Engaly (1999)
Plateau de Bonascre (2001)
Col de Pailheres (2003)

Hamilton Abandons!

Zubeldia too.. and we havent even reached the first cat 1 climb

Poor Tyler! Hmmm, who's going to be my backup underdog?

I'm really disappointed in/for Tyler Hamilton. From finishing the TDF with a broken collar bone, to abandoning this year when he is a new team leader on a new strong team.

Menchov abandons. Damn! He had a good day yesterday too.

There goes my guy.

Alright, what's going on? Is the route too brutal? Is the pace, this year, killing everyone? Why are some legitimate big dogs abandoning? Could Mayo to be next. I never thought he would have problems in these mountains!

Voeckler is my new hero!! The kid has heart! I would love to see him keep the jersey today.

Voeckler is my new hero!! The kid has heart! I would love to see him keep the jersey today.

I'm a BIG fan of Voeckler. I've never seen a rider yo-yo off the back, but ALWAYS come back into the fold like he does. Regardless as to what happens from this point forward, I'm impressed.

Tyler ..... next year, holmes.

Wow this stage is turning out to be brutal... Mayo is out... and Ullrich is already standing on his bike.. something which is not usual for him... what could this mean??

Hmm Mayo is back.. disregard the last comment..

Click here to listen. (http://ww2.olntv.com/tdf04/listenlive.html) Anyone else listening to OLN's live audio feed? I guess its better than nothing.

Wow this stage is turning out to be brutal... Mayo is out... and Ullrich is already standing on his bike.. something which is not usual for him... what could this mean??

The big boys are cracking like hard-boiled eggs off the kitchen counter. Who will be contenders once the day is done? What a crushing stage thus far!

i really feel for tyler with his dog dying. no kidding, i know how brutal that can be. but is it a good excuse for abandoning? because it's tough to imagine a physical excuse justifying abandonment after last year. he's b/w a rock and a hard place. i feel bad for his team, having been geared around this race and that rider. at least yesterday he told them to go ahead and ride for themselves. poor guy...

Can I be the first to start the Voeckler doping allegations?

Jan is beaten again...

Lance won =D

Click here to listen. (http://ww2.olntv.com/tdf04/listenlive.html) Anyone else listening to OLN's live audio feed? I guess its better than nothing.

The audio feed is great! I'm working & was refreshing cyclingnews live update page. Now I know I have to go home & catch the replay on OLN.

Voeckler is a plucky little terrier, loving him!

Basso is the biggest threat through, easily.

Lance won =D


Basso let him take it, Voelker is a Hero, Everyone is Doped.

i don't follow the sport so i'm just going on watching OLN from this year, but it seems like Basso is merely the one person who can stick with LA and keep him honest. lance just looked so strong at the finish today and right up that last climb - like i said, i don't really know the riders but i'm just saying that while Basso might be the 'biggest threat' i think the threat itself is not all that big when you get right down to it.

does basso have the ability to put time into lance in the TTs? will there be a stage of any sort where you can see him attacking with or without teammates and getting a few minutes on LA and USP?

it looks pretty well wrapped up to my inexperienced eye.

today was wild - easily the most gripping stage of the race imo. the voeckler comeback was storybook - only 20 seconds to spare!

whew..

Can I be the first to start the Voeckler doping allegations?

We'll never know, as he won't be tested. ;)

Basso's not a great TT rider. Nor horrible either. I seem to remember him six minutes down during last years TT. I have no idea how he time trials up hill.

Heras is done. Mayo and Zabeldia are done. Menchov is done. Hamilton is probably at home by now. Moreau's not a factor. All the big threats to Lance and or pre-race high GC finishers are more or less done for.

Vino has to be really bummed right now. His chance to be the team leader was spoiled by a crash before le Tour even started. We'll never know what could have been. Also, hind sight is 20/20, but Cadel Evans could have helped T-Mobile today. He could have, perhaps, been the team leader @ this point.

Anywho, one thing is FOR SURE. THE YELLOW JERSEY IS INSPIRING!!!! What a wild stage. :)

Basso and TT's
2003 - First TT 6min - Second TT 2min
2002 - First TT 2min - Second TT 4min

All those times are behind the leader.

Basso and TT's
2003 - First TT 6min - Second TT 2min
2002 - First TT 2min - Second TT 4min

All those times are behind the leader.


Game over.

But we have seen before in the Tour where a climber suddenly has a huge jump in ability, they TT much better too.

Huge time gaps today. 11th place was 4m29sec down, for example

I feared for Hamilton yesterday, he did not look good. WHat a shame that he's gone.

Regarding Vocer. He's from Martinique,and curretnly, the TOUR OF MARTINIQUE is going on. Voekler himself did it, it's mainly amateurs and young riders. BUt it's a HUGE deal in martinique where it seems cycling is a big deal. On our cable we get RFO, a french language tv network that covers news from Guadeloupe, Martinique, the reunions and ST PIerre. Every night they have a show about the day's stage in the Tour; for them it's like the Tour de France. NO live coverage, at least not on that network, but they show clips and do lots of interviews. It looks like the race itself is pretty tough- obviously very warm most of the time, and humid, and also, some pretty tough mountains. NOt like the French alps of course. I am pretty sure we'll see some stars come from that race, keep following the results on cyclingnews.com. There are a few americans in it as well!

I wouldn't say game over, Basso, Kloden and Mancebo are all within striking distance, but they will need some help to get there.

Here's the top 10;

1 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Brioches La Boulangère 58.00.27
2 Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal p/b Berry Floor 0.22
3 Ivan Basso (Ita) Team CSC 1.39
4 Andreas Klöden (Ger) T-Mobile Team 3.18
5 Francisco Mancebo Pérez (Spa) Illes Balears - Banesto 3.28
6 Georg Totschnig (Aut) Gerolsteiner 6.08
7 Jose Azevedo (Por) US Postal p/b Berry Floor 6.43
8 Jan Ullrich (Ger) T-Mobile Team 7.01
9 Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Alessio-Bianchi 7.59
10 Sandy Casar (Fra) Fdjeux.com 8.29

What the hell happened to Ullrich?
I really like what this guy had to say about the Tour yesterday;

One of my big complaints with all these Tour prima donnas off training in secret and not riding the classics and other races with each other and other riders has been that it is almost impossible to tell how they are riding in relation to each other. This year was the worst I have seen with all the Tour favorites except a few not being seen in competition with each other.

.....

Today, the bird came home to roost. These young guns have been doing battle and getting stronger while the prima donnas were in hiding and handed the prima donnas their butts big time. Almost half a dozen of them were all over Lance like a bad case of measles, repeatedly attacking and dropping him on the last climb. Six riders finished within one minute of Lance today in spite of his attacking. He couldn't break them. That is huge.

Andrew

One of my big complaints with all these Tour prima donnas off training in secret and not riding the classics and other races with each other and other riders has been that it is almost impossible to tell how they are riding in relation to each other. This year was the worst I have seen with all the Tour favorites except a few not being seen in competition with each other.

These have been my thoughts also. It used to be the riders prepared for the TDF by racing. Now they're preparing who knows how. This is one of the most bizarre GT's I have observed to date. Main contenders are demoralized and climbing off their bikes. Certain riders appear to be riding in a different gear than everyone else when 1 month ago, they were finishing in the pack. Weird.

By the way, what is the source of the above quote?

But dude, riders have to specialize these days! No one could possibly ride two classics and then win the TDF.

Y'all are stuck in the past.

July 17 205.5 km

Man, I won't get to watch this and I've been waiting to see Lance win a Stage! :mad:

These have been my thoughts also. It used to be the riders prepared for the TDF by racing. Now they're preparing who knows how. This is one of the most bizarre GT's I have observed to date. Main contenders are demoralized and climbing off their bikes. Certain riders appear to be riding in a different gear than everyone else when 1 month ago, they were finishing in the pack. Weird.

I don't get it either, very strange Tour this year. Ullrich seemed to be in top form for the TdS, looking better than ever and here is the only race favorite in the top 10. Mayo is basically out of placing in the top 10, ditto for Heras, Hamilton is gone.


By the way, what is the source of the above quote?

Here;
http://coachcarl.com/Tour_2004/tdf_2004.htm
The guy is more than a little full of himself, but he gives some interesting insight into tactics and such from the coach's side. For the last few tours he's done pretty good on predicting strategy, this year he's been off a bit more than usual, but then again this has been a strange tour.


But dude, riders have to specialize these days! No one could possibly ride two classics and then win the TDF.

Y'all are stuck in the past.

Sarcasm aside it's true, look at Mayo who has raced a full season so far...where is he again?
49 Iban Mayo (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 45.04

If Lance stays upright or doesn't get caught in some kind of trouble, who is going to challenge him? I agree with you, it would be great if we could see a rider who raced every classic, every grand tour and win, but I just don't see it happening. Lance has mentioned in interviews that he wants to ride other races, he's even hinted at riding the other grand tours, but if he goes off and does that I doubt he'll ride the TdF at all.

Andrew

Does anyone have a video clip of Hamilton's drop-out? I missed it.