Tour de France - Day 19

Today is the last regular stage of the Tour. Tomorrow is the time trials. Sunday's ride into Paris is more parade than race. Only the sprint specialists are still racing on Sunday. The overall contenders will take it easy today. They will be saving their strength for the time trial tomorrow.

That's means we have a bunch of riders who have no chance of placing in any of the competitions who will be trying to grab their last chance at glory in France for theis year's Tour de France.

"Stage 19 - Issoire to Le Puy-en-Velay >153.5km

Course: At 153.5km, this is the 2005 Tour's second shortest road stage, but certainly not the easiest. The climbs aren't particularly difficult, but the roads are often narrow and twisting, the perfect ingredients for another breakaway. There's a fast downhill toward Le Puy before a final short, up-and-down loop into the backside of town.

History: Only two Tour stages have finished at Le Puy. The last time, in 1996, the stage went to the Swiss Pascal Richard, who went on to take the following month's Olympic title in Atlanta.

Favorites: Teams yet to win a stage will be going for the victory, which could go to a Dutchman like Dekker or Rabobank teammate Karsten Kroon. But it should go to whomever is the hungriest and not too bothered about the following day's time trial...."

http://www.velonews.com/tour2005/news/articles/8302.0.html

Links for following the race...

http://www.letour.com/

http://www.velonews.com/tour2005/

http://www.tdfblog.com/

http://www.olntv.com/

•  First Update

  No huge breakaways today.

  A group of 4 attackers with 48 sec lead.
      * Giuseppe Guerini (T-Mobile) 24th at 33:14
      * Oscar Pereiro (Phonak) 13th at 17:10
      * Sandy Casar (Francaise des Jeux) 49th at 1:38:24
      * Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) 30th at 54:28

  A chase group right behind them with a lead of 39 secs on the peloton with 100 km to go

  by rebellingboxer on Fri Jul 22, 2005 at 05:53:34 AM PDT

  •  Will McEwen make it over...

    the cat 2 climb today?  If so, we could see a good showdown sprint because it is mostly downhil from there.  The break is not being allowed to go out to 10 minutes so the Sprinters may be looking to steal one before Paris.

    by DaleNC on Fri Jul 22, 2005 at 06:01:57 AM PDT

    •  Yeah... the peloton is staying close

      The green jersey race is close enough to keep the teams involved in that motivated to keep the peloton moving along at a decent pace.

      by rebellingboxer on Fri Jul 22, 2005 at 06:12:27 AM PDT

      •  Hushovd has a nice lead

        14 points at this point of the race, without O'Grady in the breakaway is alot.

        I predict Thor will make his way to the front of the peleton to pick up some points at the finish.

        by Hughsterg on Fri Jul 22, 2005 at 06:39:53 AM PDT

•  The last 2 stages

  Have been pretty boring. I think most of the big names have accepted the fact that if they couldn't eat Armstrong's lead in the hills, it wasn't going to happen. Unless he crashes tomorrow, he is just biding his time till he stands on the podium.

  by Burton Halli on Fri Jul 22, 2005 at 06:00:42 AM PDT

  •  Lance has demoralized the other overall contenders

    Every time the other teams get their tactics right and catch Lance's team off guard with some attacking, Lance turns up the tempo himself and grinds away all the attackers all by himself.

    It looks like Lance could probably continue to win the TdF 2-3 more times if he wanted to. There's just that much difference in ability between Lance and the rivals.

    by rebellingboxer on Fri Jul 22, 2005 at 06:17:49 AM PDT

    •  That's right

      That move the other day by T-Mobile was as smart and tough a move as you're going to see in cycling, and Lance had no problem leaving his team behind to respond on his own... I don't expect to see anyone do this again in my lifetime...

      by Burton Halli on Fri Jul 22, 2005 at 06:33:58 AM PDT

•  Update

  "...The four leaders are now four minutes ahead of the main field, with Salvatore Commesso (Lampre) coming in out of the chase group. He is but a scant 11 seconds ahead of his former companions. The other men in the group are still at 1:04

  Current situation on the road:
  At kilometer 62

      * Giuseppe Guerini (T-Mobile) 24th at 33:14
      * Oscar Pereiro (Phonak) 13th at 17:10
      * Sandy Casar (Francaise des Jeux) 49th at 1:38:24
      * Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) 30th at 54:28

  # lead Salvatore Commesso (Lampre) by 48 seconds and a group of nine  riders by 1:04 seconds.

      * Jose Azevedo (Discovery)
      * Kurt Asle Arvesen (CSC)
      * Bert Grabsch (Phonak)
      * Juan Antonio Flecha (Fassa Bortolo)
      * Sylvain Chavanel (Cofidis)
      * Carlos Da Cruz (Francaise des Jeux)
      * Alessandro Bertolini (Domina Vacanze)
      * Pieter Weening (Rabobank)
      * Nicholas Portal (Ag2R)

  # the peloton is 4:01 behind the leading four..."

  http://www.velonews.com/live/text/246.html

  by rebellingboxer on Fri Jul 22, 2005 at 06:10:27 AM PDT

•  I think all the jerseys are safe into Paris

  Hushovd's lead is 14 points, and there is no way his team will let O'Grady go a breakaway.

  It looks like a boring last stage this year.  Unlike 2002 & 2003, when the green jersey changed hands in Paris.

  by Hughsterg on Fri Jul 22, 2005 at 06:23:24 AM PDT

•  Over the Top of the Col des Pradeaux

  The 4 leaders were just lead over the top of the Col des Pradeaux by Oscar Pereiro.

  "...Flecha, Chavanel and Bertolini have been dropped by the chase group.

  Current situation on the road:
  At kilometer 66

      * Giuseppe Guerini (T-Mobile) 24th at 33:14
      * Oscar Pereiro (Phonak) 13th at 17:10
      * Sandy Casar (Francaise des Jeux) 49th at 1:38:24
      * Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) 30th at 54:28

  # lead Salvatore Commesso (Lampre) by 58 seconds and a group of six riders by 1:17 seconds.

      * Jose Azevedo (Discovery)
      * Kurt Asle Arvesen (CSC)
      * Bert Grabsch (Phonak)
      * Carlos Da Cruz (Francaise des Jeux)
      * Pieter Weening (Rabobank)
      * Nicholas Portal (Ag2R)

  # Juan Antonio Flecha (Fassa Bortolo), Alessandro Bertolini (Domina Vacanze) and Sylvain Chavanel (Cofidis) now trail the rest of the chase group by 15 seconds.

  # the peloton is 3:25 behind the leading four..."

  http://www.velonews.com/live/text/246.html

  by rebellingboxer on Fri Jul 22, 2005 at 06:27:06 AM PDT

•  Not really creative

  It has been so many times, but there is no real comparison in modern sports to what Lance has done. It is simply unbelievable.

  Obviously his impact has had huge implications--from the yellow bracelets (that have sold in excess of 40 million), to the bike riders that fill the roads, to the awareness about cancer, and most importantly the inspiration that he has given to cancer survivors.

  Thanks for posting on this. It is important that we take the time to focus on the extrordinary events that humans are capable of.

  Cheers

  by fratdog on Fri Jul 22, 2005 at 06:45:38 AM PDT

•  Feeding Time update

  "...The four leaders have passed through the feedzone five minutes ago and the peloton is now through as well. The chase has eased off.

  Current situation on the road:
  With 73km to go

      * Giuseppe Guerini (T-Mobile) 24th at 33:14
      * Oscar Pereiro (Phonak) 13th at 17:10
      * Sandy Casar (Francaise des Jeux) 49th at 1:38:24
      * Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) 30th at 54:28

  # lead a group of ten chasers by 2:00

      * Jose Azevedo (Discovery)
      * Salvatore Commesso (Lampre)
      * Kurt Asle Arvesen (CSC)
      * Bert Grabsch (Phonak)
      * Carlos Da Cruz (Francaise des Jeux)
      * Pieter Weening (Rabobank)
      * Juan Antonio Flecha (Fassa Bortolo)
      * Nicholas Portal (Ag2r)
      * Alessandro Bertolini (Domina Vacanze)
      * Sylvain Chavanel (Cofidis)

  # the peloton is 4:35 behind the leading four..."

  http://www.velonews.com/live/text/246.html

  also... for the record, even the OLN broadcast team is referring to Laurent Brouchard as "The Mullet" now

  by rebellingboxer on Fri Jul 22, 2005 at 06:46:56 AM PDT

•  60 km to go

  Pereiro'sposition in the breakaway could put him in the top 10 OC by the end of the day..

  "...The gap between the leaders and the peloton has gone up to 8:17 with 60km to go. The chasers are hovering out there at 2:08. No progress for those guys. Come on fellers. There are 10 of you. Work together.
  Comments? Questions? Drop us a line.
  Current situation on the road:
  With 60km to go

      * Giuseppe Guerini (T-Mobile) 24th at 33:14
      * Oscar Pereiro (Phonak) 13th at 17:10
      * Sandy Casar (Francaise des Jeux) 49th at 1:38:24
      * Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) 30th at 54:28

  # lead a group of ten chasers by 2:12

      * Jose Azevedo (Discovery)
      * Salvatore Commesso (Lampre)
      * Kurt Asle Arvesen (CSC)
      * Bert Grabsch (Phonak)
      * Carlos Da Cruz (Francaise des Jeux)
      * Pieter Weening (Rabobank)
      * Juan Antonio Flecha (Fassa Bortolo)
      * Nicholas Portal (Ag2r)
      * Alessandro Bertolini (Domina Vacanze)
      * Sylvain Chavanel (Cofidis)

  # the peloton is 8:17 behind the leading four..."

  http://www.velonews.com/live/text/246.html

  ...and I need you guys to finish the thread. Got to run. :)

  by rebellingboxer on Fri Jul 22, 2005 at 06:57:39 AM PDT

•  Thanks

  rebellingboxer, thanks for creating these threads during the Tour!

  by Felicia on Fri Jul 22, 2005 at 07:05:33 AM PDT

•  LANCE FOR PRESIDENT

  He knows how to ride bikes.

  by jillian on Fri Jul 22, 2005 at 07:15:13 AM PDT

•  Hah!!

  Anyone see that moto-camera almost catch that rider taking a wee-wee? I was wondering when they were going to figure out what he was getting ready to do... :0

  by Burton Halli on Fri Jul 22, 2005 at 08:02:39 AM PDT

  •  Yesterday, the naked guy

    in the crowd, running alongside the bikers for a 50 yards or so.  Today, a wee wee break.  What's next?

    by Eddie Haskell on Fri Jul 22, 2005 at 08:21:34 AM PDT

    •  What we need

      is Hillary to step in and save us from the offensive Tour de France coverage;)

      by Burton Halli on Fri Jul 22, 2005 at 09:05:43 AM PDT

•  Standings?

  by Eddie Haskell on Fri Jul 22, 2005 at 09:46:54 AM PDT

•  Stage results

  1      012      GUERINI Giuseppe      TMO      ITA     
  2     172     CASAR Sandy     FDJ     FRA     00' 10"
  3     119     PELLIZOTTI Franco     LIQ     ITA     00' 10"
  4     068     PEREIRO SIO Oscar     PHO     ESP     00' 12"
  5     153     COMMESSO Salvatore     LAM     ITA     02' 43"
  6     022     ARVESEN Kurt-Asle     CSC     NOR     02' 48"
  7     208     PORTAL Nicolas     A2R     FRA     02' 48"
  8     062     GRABSCH Bert     PHO     GER     02' 48"
  9     124     CHAVANEL Sylvain     COF     FRA     02' 48"
  10     059     WEENING Pieter     RAB     NED     03' 50"
  11     002     AZEVEDO José     DSC     POR     04' 21"
  12     174     DA CRUZ Carlos     FDJ     FRA     04' 21"
  13     075     FLECHA Juan Antonio     FAS     ESP     04' 21"
  14     041     MC EWEN Robbie     DVL     AUS     04' 31"
  15     106     HUSHOVD Thor     C.A     NOR     04' 31"
  16     121     O'GRADY Stuart     COF     AUS     04' 31"
  17     094     DAVIS Allan     LSW     AUS     04' 31"
  18     046     RODRIGUEZ Fred     DVL     USA     04' 31"
  19     188     NURITDINOV Rafael     DOM     UZB     04' 31"
  20     031     MANCEBO Francisco     IBA     ESP     04' 31"

  http://www.letour.com/2005/TDF/LIVE/us/1900/classement/ITE.html

  by rebellingboxer on Fri Jul 22, 2005 at 12:41:15 PM PDT

•  Overall standings

  1      001      ARMSTRONG Lance      DSC      USA     
  2     021     BASSO Ivan     CSC     ITA     02' 46"
  3     057     RASMUSSEN Mickael     RAB     DEN     03' 46"
  4     011     ULLRICH Jan     TMO     GER     05' 58"
  5     031     MANCEBO Francisco     IBA     ESP     07' 08"
  6     164     LEIPHEIMER Levi     GST     USA     08' 12"
  7     044     EVANS Cadel     DVL     AUS     09' 49"
  8     019     VINOKOUROV Alexandre     TMO     KAZ     10' 11"
  9     066     LANDIS Floyd     PHO     USA     10' 42"
  10     068     PEREIRO SIO Oscar     PHO     ESP     12' 39"
  11     101     MOREAU Christophe     C.A     FRA     13' 15"
  12     151     MAZZOLENI Eddy     LAM     ITA     15' 13"
  13     007     POPOVYCH Yaroslav     DSC     UKR     15' 53"
  14     199     ZUBELDIA Haimar     EUS     ESP     17' 26"
  15     017     SEVILLA Oscar     TMO     ESP     20' 06"
  16     096     JAKSCHE Jorg     LSW     GER     20' 16"
  17     004     HINCAPIE George     DSC     USA     21' 15"
  18     023     JULICH Bobby     CSC     USA     22' 35"
  19     108     KASHECHKIN Andrey     C.A     KAZ     23' 40"
  20     087     PIEPOLI Leonardo     SDV     ITA     26' 51"

  http://www.letour.com/2005/TDF/LIVE/us/1900/classement/ITG.html

  by rebellingboxer on Fri Jul 22, 2005 at 12:42:22 PM PDT