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July 12, 2005
Stage 10 on last climb
Armstrong is in a group of five, but now he's upped the tempo again! Basso is off the back!
Only Rabobank's King of the Mountains, Michael Rasmussen, and the two Illes Balears riders, Valverde and Mancebo, can hold his wheel.
Ullrich is about a minute down, and Voigt, this morning's yellow jersey is more than 10 minutes back. They've still got 5 miles to ride.
The four are sharing work, with Rasmussen taking fewer pulls than the others.
They're coming up on the 1k marker, and there's a steeper section.
Rasmussen picks up the pace, but he's countered. Valverde was looking for it. Armstrong is just sitting in. I don't think he'll beat Valverde in a sprint.
There goes Armstrong from 500 meters!
Valverde grabs his wheel. I think it's Valverde's stage....
Armstrong sits up, and Valverde wins his first Tour de France stage!
Now the former contenders come in: Basso at 1:00, Leipheimer at 1:12 or so. Landis, Evans, Moreau, Ullrich, Klöden: 2:15 to the line. Vinokourov and Julich: 5 minutes plus.
Posted by Frank Steele on July 12, 2005 in Alejandro Valverde, Alexandre Vinokourov, Andreas Klöden, Bobby Julich, Cadel Evans, Christophe Moreau, Floyd Landis, Francisco Mancebo, Ivan Basso, Jan Ullrich, Lance Armstrong, Levi Leipheimer, Michael Rasmussen | Permalink
Comments
It's over. Lance has won.
Posted by: Max at Jul 12, 2005 11:32:58 AM
amazing. is there anyone in the new gc top 5 that can even be close to armstrong in the time trial? if discovery can control the rest of the mountain stages like they did today, then it really is over.
Posted by: josh at Jul 12, 2005 11:36:15 AM
Lance rode a good race- dropped all the contenders (which was suprising), and the only ones close are ones that he can absolutely crush in the TT.
And what about Rasmussen? I'm amazed he finished so high up considering his effort in Stage 9.
Posted by: elton at Jul 12, 2005 11:38:16 AM
I'm actually more worried now with the bigger lead. With everyone down so far what's to stop them from attacking non-stop in an attempt to wear out Disco? (aside from jello legs that is)
If I was Godefroot, I would rotate my big 3 through constant attacks. Lance has to chase them all down, but Kloden and Ulrich can rest while Vino does some damage, and so on.
I'm not ready to count to 7 yet.
But man, what a stage!!
Posted by: Mark at Jul 12, 2005 11:42:09 AM
Massive breakaway tomorrow?
Posted by: elton at Jul 12, 2005 11:48:17 AM
do the t-mobile guys have enough to attack tomorrow? has vino cracked or is he going to be able to regain his legs? i just can't see lance dropping much time to any of those guys . . . he looks like he has a lot more in the tank than any of them.
Posted by: josh at Jul 12, 2005 12:03:17 PM
Dear God,
Please send someone to beat Lance.
Amen
Posted by: cameron at Jul 12, 2005 12:30:06 PM
. . . or at least send someone that will keep the OLN talking about him for 235 minutes of every four-hour telecast. UGH.
Posted by: josh at Jul 12, 2005 12:32:23 PM
errrr . . . keep OLN _from_ talking about him, even.
Posted by: josh at Jul 12, 2005 12:33:20 PM
Only
Lance
Network
Posted by: cameron at Jul 12, 2005 12:53:11 PM
