2009 TDF stage 17 - Bourg-Saint-Maurice Le Grand-Bornand 169.5 km

Stage 17 Bourg-Saint-Maurice -> Le Grand-Bornand 169.5 km

MOUNTAIN PASSES & HILLS

Km 18.0: Cormet de Roselend (D.902-D.925) - 18.1 km climb to 5.7 % - Category 1
Km 56.0: Col des Saisies - 15.1 km climb to 6 % - Category 1
Km 111.5 - Côte d'Araches - 6.3 km climb to 7 % - Category 2
Km 140.5: Col de Romme - 8.8 km climb to 8.9 % - Category 1
Km 154.5: Col de la Colombière - 7.5 km climb to 8.5 % - Category 1


General classification after stage 16 ( top 25 )

1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 67:33:15
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 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas 0:02:51
7 Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Française des Jeux 0:03:09
8 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 0:03:25
9 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Cervelo Test Team 0:03:52
10 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Slipstream 0:03:59
11 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 0:04:38
12 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas 0:04:40
13 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia - HTC 0:05:05
14 Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale 0:05:26
15 Sandy Casar (Fra) Française des Jeux 0:05:40
16 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Team Katusha 0:05:56
17 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto 0:07:23
18 Luis León Sánchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0:08:23
19 Stéphane Goubert (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:09:14
20 Brice Feillu (Fra) Agritubel 0:10:00
21 Peter Velits (Svk) Team Milram 0:10:54
22 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Silence - Lotto 0:11:11
23 Linus Gerdemann (Ger) Team Milram 0:11:16
24 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Team Katusha 0:11:33
25 Haimar Zubeldia Aguirre (Spa) Astana 0:13:26

Attached Thumbnails

     

__________________
Steve
CyclingForums.com

Step up Gerdemann!

I am looking forward this stage. This looks harder than similar stages in previous tours. Last two climbs are very steep and there is only 5km decent between those two. Possibly someone might loose the time during 15km decent to Grand Bornard.

__________________
Why am I still a fan of dopers sport?

It will be a windy stage. Weather forecasts predict strong SSO wind, maybe 60km/h or even stronger on top of mountains. That could help a lot the earlier breakaways. The end of Colombiere and the downhill could be difficult.

__________________
6 +2 (according Ashenden) samples with EPO should have banned Lance Armstrong to start next TDF !

If Sastre has anything in his legs this year today is the day or never.
Saxo will have to rely a lot on Cancellara to sacrifice himself for as long as he can go with Jens gone.
I still don't believe anyone can stay with Contador if he puts on the gas so not much change in the standings.
I think the challenge for second place might be the more exciting race, Armstrong, Kloden, Wiggins..........??

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

I would concur with JH's analysis.
Today is the day that Sastre has to make his move.
Although he can time trial - he needs to gain an advantage in todays stage and maintain that advantage at ventoux.

it will be interesting to see how Armstrong goes today and whether or not he can still the pace in the very high mountains.

should be an interesting stage.

__________________
.."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.

Cadel dropped - Hushovd gets the KOM points

__________________
Steve
CyclingForums.com

I see the God of Thunder ate his wheaties today...

... I remember Luis Herrera retiring because "the big fat guys were going off the front and dropping me on the mountains"

He can sprint, he can climb... from the near crash it doesn't look like he can descend for **** though.

So I'm sitting watching the tour thinking "damn that looks familiar" then I realise - I've ridden some of these climbs!! I rode an Etap du Tour years and year ago from Aime to Cluses. I've climbed Saisies and Colombiere - ahhh memories...

Should be fun watching Saxo Bank and Astana trying to dislodge Wiggins whils trying to kill each other at the same time.

Should be a wicked stage!

How well is Thor climbing? Methinks he's going to blow up in a HUGE way sometime soon...

I think he's just out on a mission for the sprint bonuses. I can't see him trying to go all the way even if he's planning on using the time trial as a rest day...

My prediction for the final climb is pain and more pain.

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

Contador is going to attack on the last climb and will win the stage.

I have a sneaky suspiscion it will be Kloden...

Contador might put the gas on but he doesn't need to attack. He just needs to maintain.

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

cycling news is reporting di luca busted for cera in giro stages.

__________________
"Kick over the statues and the tyrants die. Wave bye bye to their heroes with a hammer."
--The Redskins, Kick Over the Statues