93rd Tour de France Stage - Stage 17 Live
Last Chance for Romance in the Alps...

Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne - Morzine 200.5 km
Mercifully, the first fifty kilometers of this 200.5 kilometer stage are on a slight down slope. As this is the Alps, however, the pain starts in earnest at the 67.5 kilometer point when the riders must confront the Cat 1 Col des Saisies (14.9 km at 6.4%). After a descent and a quick trip through the feed zone, the riders hit the short but steep Cat 2 Col des Aravis (5.9 km at 7.1%) and the longer but shallower Cat 1 climb of the Col de la Colombiere (11.8 km at 5.8%). After a 28.5 km descent and a bit of flats, the riders roll up on the Cat 3 Cote de Chatillon-sur-Cluses (5.1 km at 4.9%). At the 175.5 kilometer point, the riders tackle the steep nastiness of the Col de Joux-Plane (11.7 km at 8.5%). Then comes a 12 kilometer descent to the finish. Like in years past, this stage will likely see the GC men starting to ride defensively and some climbing-happy opportunists to slip away and take the stage. This will be the final big day in the race for the Polka-Dot Jersey, so look for the mountain contenders to go all out to secure their prize while the GC riders just make sure nothing too big gets away.

Welcome to our live coverage this morning. Our commentators today are Locutus with Crazy Jane joining us later from a sidewalk bistro in Prague. Join other fans from around the world to discuss the race in progress while you follow the ticker in the Daily Peloton Chat room. 

Stage 17 Profile.

Here is the poem of the day from Dancing on the Pedals: The Found Poetry of Phil Liggett, the Voice of Cycling by Doug Donaldson and Phil Liggett.

Well, as we start coverage today, I think it's important to report that Floyd Landis (Phonak) has attacked the Yellow Jersey group and is trying to bridge up to a break of seven men.

1353 CEST - 120 km left. The riders in the break are nearing the top of the first climb of the day, Here are the men in the break: Pavel Padrnos (Discovery Channel), Stuart O'Grady (CSC), Patrik Sinkewtiz (T-Mobile), Daniele Righi (Lampre), Juan Manuel Garate (Quick Step), Patrice Halgand (Credit Agricole), and Philippe Gilbert (FDJeux).

Landis is 3 min 30 sec behind this group of seven men. The peloton, which contains the Yellow Jersey Pereiro (Caisse d'Epargne) and Polka-Dot Jersey Rasmussen (Rabobank), is down to 45 men and it is 6 min 10 sec behind the break. So Landis is 3 min 20 sec ahead of the Yellow Jersey group.

When Landis attacked, Evans (Davtiamon-Lotto), Rogers (T-Mobile), and a few others tried to follow, and Floyd just dropped them.

Team Caisse d’Epargne-Illes Balears Comments
After he put on the yellow jersey, Pereiro was very satisfied and very serene: “I want to enjoy the moment”, he said. “Of course we are closer to the podium now. We have a very strong team and today my team-mates realized a wonderful job, one more time. But we have to consider the fact that tomorrow will be a very difficult day with a hard mountain stage and on Saturday is the long time trial. We have to go day by day. Tonight I will speak with Eusebio Unzue and we will make plans for the stage o tomorrow.”

José Miguel Echávarri was on the finish line to receive Oscar Pereiro. He declared: “Oscar raced in a very interesting and intelligent way, yesterday and today. All the team did a great job. Today we did a step forward but there are still adversaries and difficulties left. We are serene even if still moved by the emotion provoked by something we did not expect.”

Jose Gomez Marchante (Saunier Duval) has abandoned. Earlier in the stage, Juan Miguel Mercado of Agritubel abandoned. Perdiguero (Phonak) also abandoned, but not before he went to the front on this first climb to raise the pace and launch Landis on this attack.

1402 CEST - Landis goes over the top of the Col des Saisies, which I think is French for "Sissy Mountain." Okay, maybe not... this mountain looks really tough, actually. So Landis goes over the top 3 min 10 sec behind the seven-man break.

Stage References:
Stage 17 Profile
Location - Categorie - climb -elevation - length - average gradient
82 km Cat. 1 Col des Saisies 1,650 meters 14.9 km -6.4%
108.5 km Cat. 2 Col des Aravis 1,498 meters 5.9 km - 7.3%
133.5 km Cat.1 Col de la Colombière 1,618 meters 11.8 km - 5.9% 
160.5 km Cat. 3 Côte de Châtillon - 735 meters - 5.1 km - 4.9% 
187 km Hors Cat. Col de Joux-Plane - 1,700 meters -11.7 km - 8.7% 

In the peloton, two Caisse d'Epargne riders are leading Pereiro in a rather nervous chase of Landis. They are still 3 minutes behind Landis. Good to see that Floyd is either going to win or go down swinging. You have to love this move: it's pure guts, just like Leipheimer's move yesterday.

1405 CEST - 112 km left. The peloton goes over the top of the climb finally. By the way, Christophe Moreau (AG2r-Prevoyance) got dropped by the Yellow Jersey group on that climb. His GC position will take a hit. Landis was 3 min 22 sec ahead of the Yellow Jersey group at the top of that climb. Floyd is down in a time trial position hammering away on a flatter section of the descent. Le Mevel has a flat back wheel. He gets a change, and is back in pursuit of the Yellow Jersey group.

In other news Ben Ross our photographer at the tour has introduced a new category of prize for le tour; Most Aggressive Podium Girl... Stage 16 winner below

Most Aggressive Podium Girl Photo c. Ben Ross

Stephane Auge (Cofidis) is back up to that break. Oh, and Le Mevel was back up to the break when he got that flat. He was in the break, but was dropped on the climb. I thought he'd dropped back to the peloton, but in fact he had chased back. So there are nine men in the break at the front of the race. Landis is still alone trying to bridge.
Landis is only about 2 minutes behind this lead group.

With the attack of Landis and the response it has caused, the peloton exploded on that first climb. The flat-landers and sprinters are going to have a very, very long day off the back. Good to see Garate on the attack in this break. The Spanish Champion is a great climber, but he's been struggling in this Tour.

1416 CEST - 103 km left. The break goes through the feed zone and sits up a bit. They have a brief flat section of road, then it is up the Cat 2 climb of the Col des Aravis (5.9 km at 7.1%)... the steepness of that climb will favor Floyd's chase. Halgand attacks the leaders. He has a small gap. He's trying to get a jump heading into the next climb.

Here are the time checks: Landis is 1 min 45 sec behind the break. The Caisse d'Epargne-led peloton is 2 min 55 sec behind Landis. This will be a big chase all day long. Pereiro was dropped by the pack when Landis attacked, but he and his teammates recovered once Floyd got away and dropped everybody.

1426 CEST - 97 km left. Landis has now caught the break! Wow, the time checks didn't tell us that Floyd was this close. Floyd goes up to the front of the break and starts to drive it. They are on the climb now. Will they be able to hold Landis? Halgand is alone off the front of the break. Garate is working with Landis! So this could get interesting... Garate would be a great ally if he can go with Landis. The increased pace is blowing this break to bits. Tankink is gone, so is Gilbert.

Well, all of a sudden, only six men are left in this break: O'Grady, Sinkewitz, Garate, Padrnos, Landis, and one other man. Halgand is still alone off the front of this break. The chasing Yellow Jersey group is looking under pressure. They are on the climb now. The Yellow Jersey group is fairly big, still about 45 men or more. Righi is the other man still with the Landis group.

1430 CEST - In the Yellow Jersey group, Vincent Garcia Acosta of Caisse d'Epargne has been dropped after having done a lot of work to set the pace.

1435 CEST - 94 km left. Halgand has a good gap: he is 1 min 45 sec ahead of the chase group led by Landis. The peloton of the Yellow Jersey Pereiro is 5 min 10 sec behind Halgand. Sastre is sitting in right behind the Caisse d'Epargne men at the front of the peloton. Also up there are Dessel (AG2r), Hincapie (Discovery Channel) and all the big GC names. No sign of Moreau yet, though. Floyd sets the pace in the chase of Halgand. His pace is too much for Padrnos.

Caisse D'Espagne is chasing, and they must be shitting bricks. If Floyd is feeling good, he can hold a gap with the best of 'em. Garate can't follow the pace either. That's a surprise. They are nearing the top of the climb now. Garate and Padrnos will probably get back with this Landis group on the descent.

1452 CEST - 92 km left. Here is the situation: Halgand is off the front by 1 min 20 sec ahead of a group of four chasers. Landis is leading that chase group that also includes O'Grady (CSC), Sinkewitz (T-Mobile), and Righi (Lampre). Neither O'Grady nor Sinkewitz will work with Landis because Floyd is threatening the GC position of their teammates Sastre and Kloden. Halgand goes over the top of the Col de Aravis.

Next on the climb agenda at 133.5 km Cat.1 Col de la Colombière 1,618 meters 11.8 km - 5.9%

O'Grady is tacked to the back of the Landis group. Great so see the man who fracture a bone in his back at the beginning of the race get into a break like this. He must be feeling better. Landis is on his way down now, too, his companions in tow. Landis is a darned good descender. It may work in his favor today that the finish is downhill, if he can stay away.

Landis now has over 4 minutes on the Yellow Jersey group. Two big climbs to go... Pereiro only has one more man working for him in the chasing peloton. You know, this attack by Landis is really starting to hurt the peloton. Ballsy move, man. You gotta love that guy for stuff like this. It's one thing to ride defensively when you're on top, but putting the other contenders on the defensive today is exactly what Floyd has to do to prove his mettle today.

1448 CEST - 88 km left. So next up for the leaders: the Cat 1 Col de la Colombiere, which is 11.8 km at 5.8%. Then there is a small Cat 3 and the Above Category climb of the Joux-Plane before that descent to the finish. Floyd could make this attack stick. Landis has pulled away from his companions on the descent, and has a small gap now on the flat. They'll regroup, no doubt, but Floyd is riding like his ass is on fire today. His hip is probably on fire, but that's a different thing...

The peloton is on the descent now... Landis has gone all aero, and is bombing... Padrnos has regained the Landis group. Not surprising that the big Czech rider has bridged, but he'll be dropped again on the Colombiere. Padrnos, one of the few Czech riders in the peloton. Landis is now only 38" from Hagland! Hagland consults with his DS. I think he knows his jig is up. 29" now. Floyd is burning up this course.

1456 CEST - 80 km left. So the million dollar question right now is, when will T-Mobile and CSC start to work with Caisse d'Epargne to bring back Landis? Will they wait until the final climb, and try to attack Pereiro in the process? Or will it be sooner than that? Hagland sits up to wait for his pursuers.

Both Sastre (CSC), who is 2nd on GC, and Kloden (T-Mobile), who is 3rd on GC, would love to drop Pereiro today. The attack of Landis is putting pressure on Caisse d'Epargne, softening them up. This could actually benefit Sastre and Kloden, but it is a dangerous tactical game. Hagland has only 14" now.

So what does this regrouping at the front of the race mean? I means that Floyd Landis is now 5 min 53 sec ahead of the Yellow Jersey group. Hagland and the Landis group are climbing again... The leaders are now on the Colombiere. The pace of Landis has dropped 0'Grady and Padrnos. And Landis has just caught Halgand. Halgand looks to be on the ropes a little bit, with Landis setting the pace. Meanwhile, there's a little touch of urgency on the faces in the peloton.

1501 CEST - 77 km left. Four men are at the front of the race: Landis, Sinkewitz, Halgand, and Righi. Landis continues to set the pace. I think they've dropped Righi. Floyd is just blowing people off his wheels today. He's literally blown everyone in the peloton off his wheel except for these two men who are still clinging on right now.

Gap to the peloton is 5'21", but the pack is on the flat, and these men are climbing. That will yo yo back when the peloton hits the climb. Floyd had to get a bike change... some sort of a mechanical problem. His companions pulled away a bit, but he's back on his bike and will have them again in just a minute. He's already back with them. He got a push from a spectator, but he was yelling at the guy to leave him alone the whole time.

Sweat is pouring off Landis's face, and he is driving a hard tempo. The poor Caisse d'Espagne guys on the front of the peloton look WORKED. Kloden and Sastre are STOKED. The T-Mobile team car comes up to give Sinkewitz some water and to tell him to just keep sitting on Landis. George looks lovely today, sitting in there with the leaders...

The gap is 5'45". It's hot out there, and Floyd keeps dumping water over his head to stay cool. Moreau is back in the Yellow Jersey pack, by the way... he's riding next to Dessel. The peloton is still pretty big... the only ones who look under big pressure in the pack are the Caisse d'Epargne riders on the front. Halgand can't hold Landis's pace. He's off the back of the break now.

1512 CEST - 72 km left. The Colombiere is taking its toll. Sinkewitz looks good on Floyd's wheel, but Halgand keeps yo-yo-ing. Landis has his forearms on his handlebars, TT-style. He's on a mission. It's official: Floyd's lead has gone up to over 6 minutes on the peloton. That means he is only 2 minutes and change away from the Yellow jersey right now. Remember, Floyd is over 8 minutes behind Pereiro, but he's just over 6 minutes behind guys like Sastre and Kloden.
Here's another update: the time gap is now 6 min 25 sec to the peloton. Landis hammers on. Can he hold this pace? If he can, he may be riding himself into contention, but forget that, right now he's riding like a champion. Floyd takes on water and dumps it over his head. It's hot out there!

1518 CEST - 69.5 km left. Landis and Sinkewitz have 25 seconds on Halgand and 6 minutes and 30 seconds on the peloton. Floyd is burning up the road. It is hard to believe this attack... it is incredible! Caisse d'Espagne loses one man at the front. He's cooked. Pereiro only has one teammate now. Latest gap 6:45 as Landis moves closer to capturing the yellow jersey on the road. Sinkewitz is hanging on to Landis's pace, but Floyd is riding like he doesn't exist. 6'55" is the latest gap!

At the front of the peloton, the Caisse d'Epargne men are having a chat about something. They don't look happy at all. No sign of help from CSC or T-Mobile yet. Those boys can't wait too much longer to help out, or Floyd will make them pay. The gap is 7'09" now. Landis is pulling away FAST on this climb. Landis takes on food and water, and dumps more water over his head.

1524 CEST - 67.5 km left. Gap 7:18 Floyd is nearing the top of this final climb. You know, Sinkewitz could be a big beneficiary of this attack if he can continue to hold Floyd's wheel. Landis will want to drop Sinkewitz soon, because that guy isn't helping him at all.

That early break looked like a good working group, but then Floyd caught them and blew it all to hell. Floyd comes up to the top of the Colombiere. Landis and Sinkewitz are over the summit! Landis is the king of this mountain.

Live Report Continues in Part 2