2009 TDF stage 16: Martigny Bourg-Saint-Maurice 159 km

2009 Tour de France stage 16: Martigny Bourg-Saint-Maurice 159 km

MOUNTAIN PASSES & HILLS

Km 40.5: Col du Grand-Saint-Bernard - 24.4 km climb to 6.2 % - Category H
Km 128.0: Col du Petit-Saint-Bernard - 22.6 km climb to 5.1 % - Category 1


General classification after stage 15 ( top 25 )
1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 63:17:56
2 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana 0:01:37
3 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream 0:01:46
4 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 0:02:17
5 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 0:02:26
6 Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale 0:02:30
7 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas 0:02:51
8 Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC 0:03:07
9 Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Française des Jeux 0:03:09
10 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 0:03:25
11 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Cervelo TestTeam 0:03:52
12 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Slipstream 0:03:59
13 George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia - HTC 0:04:05
14 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto 0:04:27
15 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Team Columbia - HTC 0:04:38
16 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas 0:04:40
17 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia - HTC 0:05:05
18 Luis León Sánchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0:05:27
19 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 0:05:37
20 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Team Katusha 0:05:56
21 Sandy Casar (Fra) Française des Jeux 0:06:33
22 Brice Feillu (Fra) Agritubel 0:07:04
23 Peter Velits (Svk) Team Milram 0:07:58
24 Linus Gerdemann (Ger) Team Milram 0:08:20
25 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Team Katusha 0:08:37

Attached Thumbnails

     

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Steve
CyclingForums.com

Culd turn out to be an interesting stage, two big climbs and it's only the descent to the finish no long flat. I think the other players have to throw all they've got at Contador, today tomorrow and on all the rest of the mountain stages. Whats the point in raceing for second when they all train to win. If they all keep attacking he will crack there's more of them than him.

waiting for the tipping thread to open.
but im thinking igor anton for this one

Astana needs to keep the tempo high and control the front, drop off as many opposing support riders as possible before the final climb. Maybe it would be a good day for Saxo and Garmin to be conservative ,survive and try and not lose much time, and hope that Sastre jumps and he and Contador go at it, pray that Sastre can take some of the piss out of him.
Garmin and Saxo could coordinate attacks in the big mountains tomorrow when Contador is weakened. Voight will be in the break waiting to support the Schlecks with Cancellara leading out the attack for Saxo. Contador will crack on the last climb and struggle...........and then I woke up and went to take a leak.

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Dope,when training and talent just aren't enough.

Sorry I wasn't going to bother today I'll open a thread for it in about 2 minutes

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Steve
CyclingForums.com

The shots from Switzerland on TV NOW are simply beautiful.
French TV are showing the glaciers in the mountains beside Grand St Bernard.

Lovely.

The front group are splitting all over the place.
Pelizotti is getting a lot of gib from the Euskatel riders like Martinez.

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.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it" - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.

Sounds pretty good, we'll need to wait about 30 minutes of the TV coverage to begin.

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Steve
CyclingForums.com

No contador can be beaten, Astana can be beaten, people just need to work together, which wont happen

I've been impressed by Pelizotti in this tour, he's been very active in my opinion.

Armstrong just interviewed on Europsort:

"even in my day, I never had the punch that Alberto has in this Tour de France"

"Alberto is going really well and I am pleased for him and the team"

"If I make the podium at paris, it will be a great achievement"

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.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it" - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.

I agree, I don't think he could ever climb that fast.

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Dope,when training and talent just aren't enough.

He's conceded, I reckon.

__________________
.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it" - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.

Contador climbs as fast uphill as I do.......................going downhill.

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Dope,when training and talent just aren't enough.

Yep it is beautiful around St Bernard.
They've just passed the hospital at the top of the Col.

St Bernard is where the St Bernard dog was bred (you know the dog with the brandy tankard around it's neck?).

__________________
.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it" - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.

Franco is having a really great tour.

__________________
.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it" - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.