Tour de France, Stage 16 – Live Blog

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Today, for your enjoyment, the riders will summit two “Category 1″‘s and two “Category Uncategorized” climbs (HC). Category 1′s are the hardest climbs, HC are harder than that. (Those French have a different word (concept) for everything.)

Bagnères-de-Luchon to Pau – 199.5 km

Tour de France Stage 16 Profile

9:28

10 riders are 7:23 ahead of the Peloton

1. Lance Armstrong
2. Christopher Horner
3. Sandy Casar
4. Ignatas Konovalovas
5. Carlos Barredo
6. Jurgen Van De Walle
7. Pierrick Fedrigo
8. Christophe Moreau
9. Ruben Plaza Molina
10. Damiano Cunego

As I write Lance Armstrong attacks at the head of the breakaway – the result is the breakaway has split into 4 groups

D’oh! – now they’re back together… What was that about? Did visions of greater days fire Lance’s muscles for a minute?

No… he’s serious, he attacking again – pumping up the mountain in classic Armstrong tempo. He’s on his feet bouncing back and forth, each pump of the pedals followed by a perfect mirror on the opposite side. Pum-pa-de-dum, pum-pa-de-dum, pum-pa-de-dum, pum-pa-de-dum – the classic Armstrong rhythm goes…

The Versus announcers, Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen think Armstrong is trying to win this stage; they think he’s trying to dump Damiano Cunego – who they feel is Lance’s main nemesis for a stage win in this group.

As a result of these attacks, the breakaway has added a minute to their lead – now 8:34 in front of the Peloton.

9:55

Tour de France Stage 16 LIVE 9:50 AM EDT

10:14

Sandy Casar and Ignatas Konovalovas have been dropped from the breakaway.

The Breakaway Eight.

1. Lance Armstrong
2. Christopher Horner
3. Carlos Barredo
4. Jurgen Van De Walle
5. Pierrick Fedrigo
6. Christophe Moreau
7. Ruben Plaza Molina
8. Damiano Cunego

Now 9:42 ahead of the Peloton.

10:23

Sandy Casar has now re-joined the eight (so nine) but wait, Carlos Barredo is out off the front now (so eight). A breakaway from the breakaway; Barredo is 30 seconds in front.

10:30

Carlos Barredo’s lead has stabilized now, out in front of the breakaway by 45 seconds.

10:50

Tour de France Stage 16 LIVE 10:50 AM EDT

11:55

The “League de Lance” as the French networks are saying, the eight chasing Barredo, are closing the gap to the leader – now only 15 seconds.

Meanwhile the Peloton is closing on the breakaway as well, now 8:38 back.

11:00

Carlos Barredo has ‘put the pedal down’ and stretched the lead back out to 22 seconds – or is the League de Lance just preparing to pounce?

11:05

When will the League de Lance attack come?

11:07

Armstrong has moved to the front of the League de Lance.

Barredo’s lead is UP, to 28 seconds!

11:08

Barrado is kicking it with 4 km to go!

11:11

Barredo as he goes up the last little hill is wobbly, exhausted on his bike – the lead is down now to 15 seconds with 2000 metres to go.

10 seconds now, Barredo’s on the flat with 1.5 km to go!

11:12

Caught!

11:13

Lance is in near the back of the lead sprinters as he breaks out of his draft to sprint for the finish. He’s too late, not enough!

The Finish

1. Pierrick Fedrigo
2. Sandy Casar
3. Ruben Plaza Molina
4. Damiano Cunego
5. Christopher Horner
6. Lance Armstrong
7. JurgeVan De Walle
8. Christophe Moreau (all at 0:00)
9. Carlos Barredo + 00′ 28″
10. Thor Hushovd + 06′ 45″
11. Jose Joaquin Rojas + 06′ 45″
12. Eros Caprcchi + 06′ 45″
13. Nicolas Roche + 06′ 45″
14. Gerald Ciolek + 06′ 45″
15. Martin Elmiger + 06′ 45″

19. Ryder Hesjedal + 06′ 45″
103. Michaël Barry + 34′ 48″

General Classification after stage 16

General Classification after stage 16

95. Michael Barry + 2h 31′ 11″

mh