[Tour 2002]- Stage 16

[CycloFiend Tour Addict]

Stage 16 - Les Deux Alpes to La Plagne
"Stretch your legs, boys. The Alps beckon!"

The riders are working up toward the 6500 feet of the Col du Madeleine,
with 19 km of climbing, at an average gradient of 8.5%. It is the second
major climb of the day.  A group of four riders have moved away, quite
optimistically it would seem, to attack the second climb.  Between them
a group of eight riders are trying to distance themselves from the
largely intact peloton.  There's 87 km to go, with a a couple of "Hors
Catagorie" peaks to go.  4:53 behind, the peloton rolls along not
inspired enough to growl, but paying enough attention to be dangerous.

The most distant foursome consists of Rabobank's Michael Boogerd, Credit
Agricole's Stuart O'Grady, Telekom's Gian Matteo Fagnini and
FDJeux.com's Robbie Hunter, up and away on an overcast day.  Of course,
their attack suddenly makes more sense after reviewing the stage map, as
a midway sprint point lies before them.  O'Grady is obvious taking the
long view of Green Jersey points, Fagnini is following him trying to
push him down and nab the points for Zabel, and Hunter has decided to
work into the mix.  The only question is Boogerd, but maybe they are
running a rabbit for Levi Leipheimer.  Into town, Fagnini gives a
near-perfect leadout to O'Grady, who grabs the 6 points.  But, after
contesting the sprint, the big men simply watch as Boogerd move away on
the lower slopes of the mountain.

The midway chase group consists of the following riders:
35 - Jose Gutierrez - Kelme
189 - Ludovic Turpin - Ag2R
76 - Axel Merckx - Domo
51 - Laurent Jalabert - CSC-Tiscali
126 - Miguel Martinez - Mapei
29 - Marcos Serrano - ONCE
167 - Iban Mayo - Euskaltel-Euskadi
155 - Ludo Dierckxsens - Lampre

Although they cameras won't tell us, the announcers can relate that the
8,000 foot climb of the Galibier which started the day did no permanent
damage to anyone - at least not that shows itself on the flat valley
roads - and there has been a general regrouping of riders as the USPS
sets a static pace along the river.  ONCE riders mass behind the USPS
team, and the Lampre "lost-teletubby" colors surround Raimondas Rumsas,
who is in the mix for real, climbing well and sitting in third place
after appearring from somewhere east of nowhere this year.

Boogerd's early pace on the massive mountain has moved him out 50
seconds ahead of his group, and 2:05 in front of the Gang of 8 in the
middle. Back in the pack, about 5 minutes away, Lotto's Robbie McEwen in
the Green Jersey is suffering over the base inclines of the Madaleine.
Dierckxsens also falls awy from the group of 8 - a strong rider who does
have the challenges of gravity against him as he climbs. But at the
other end of the body mass index scale, Martinez is already having a bit
of trouble staying stuck to his group, drifting back and forward in
arrears - it may have been a "natural break", as he seems to regain them
quickly.

Off the back of the peloton, Kelme's Oscar Sevilla has folded up his
number and headed for the team cars. Time to think about the Vuelta for
Oscar.

Boogerd climbs strongly, and extends his lead out to 3:02 and 8:35 about
two-thirds of  the way up the climb.  In the chase group, Jalabert gets
up out of the saddle to just add a bit of gas to the effort, which
causes Turpin elevate his pace and roll away from the gang.  Jalabert
calmly leads the boys back up to Turpin, and upon the regroup, Mayo
fires away in the colors of Euskaltel-Euskadi, warming the hearts of
Basques everywhere.  He gets a good gap and Turpin now has trouble
holding on.  Solo ridin' Mayo quickly cuts the distance to the suffering
sprinters Fagnini/O'Grady/Hunter, passes them and sets his attention to
another rider in orange - Michael Boogerd. Turpin has found his climbing
gear again, and rolled up and past the three flatland boys dragging
Jalabert along with him.

The main peloton follows the pace of Vlatchislav Ekimov, Floyd Landis
just behind him.  Ivan Basso sits next to Lance, and the group of the
peloton has thinned considerably on the first pitches of the climb.
They sit 8:31 behind Boogerd, who has about 76 km before he can shower
today.

Off the front of the peloton comes Roberto Laiseka- the skeleton of a
climber who rides for Euskaltel-Euskadi. He crackles away from the bunch
and begins his efforts. It's really the first time we've seen him test
his condition with an open display of accelleration.

Jalabert knocks out a solid effort, as he and Turpin have rolled back up
to Mayo after the attack.

On the front, Landis now sets pace, with Hincapie right behind him.  The
only riders who look truly comfortable all seem to be wearing USPS
jerseys.  The boys at the back of the group are just trying to find a
comfortable position to attck the climbs.  It does not seem as if they
will not find such a position.  Oh, I don't know, maybe for the next
couple hours...

Off the roadways, reports are coming in that Sufferin' Jan Ullrich now
faces a court case in Germany for charges related to the "little pills"
he took while drowning his sorrows.  I don't know if I mentioned, but
his coach has publicly stated that Ullrich needs to find a better group
of friends.

Mayo and Jalabert seem to be able to keep the pace of one another,
Jalabert with his impassive contenence.  Turpin who has his claws on
them shows every scrap of effort as he tries to stay attched .

Laurent Dufaux abandons today, as with Sevilla, suffering from stomach
cramps.

Laiseka now drifts backwards, finding that the comfort of the peloton is
better than the solo pain of effort. At least for today...

Miguel Martinez has found his way up to Jalabert group to create the
day's Gang of Four. I guess the climbing goes easy when you weigh less
than your bike.  Domo's Richard Virenque finds himself going the other
direction, drifting away from a still fairly large group which includes
Armstrong. Martinez now sets the pace as the sun peeks out and begins to
add to the pain of the climb.  Dierckxsens has just been caught by the
yellow jersey group.  Virenque now takes pace from the Mavic neutral
service car, jersey wide open and out of the saddle.  That fatty ball
seems to be reappearring near the base of his neck and his arms seem to
be touch rubbery today.  The tail of the group ahead sits tantalizingly
up the road. He is paying for his Mt. Ventoux triumph in a most evident
manner. For those of you riding along on the windtrainers, there's about
4 km to go to the top of this climb. Still, no one has made a decisive
attack at the front of the main leader's group.

Well, it seems as if I'm less dedicated than I thought - it seems that
OLN has been broadcasting since 7:30 am EST, which explains why the
coverage was already going when I got up 10 minutes early for the 8:30
am EST show start.  Of course, since the coffee gets brewed on the west
coast, that means I would've had to have arisen at 4:25 am rather than
5:25 am...  Not sure I've trained for that.  Nevertheless, since the
light has spread across the morning sky at 6:30 am, the dog has
awakened, and seems excited once again to find the possibility of food
appearing in her dish. A break must be taken to provide this miracle.

Back in front of the feed with a dog that has been fed, we find Boogerd
now has the crest of the mountain in his sights - passing the 1 km to
the mountain top banner.  The spectators are dressed rather warmly,
layered into their overcoats and wearing shorts.  The sun is still just
breaking through waaaay up here. Over the top, he grabs a drink and
begins what will be an 18 mile descent back to the valley. He has 67 km
to go to the finish.

The Lanterne Rouge, Jimmy Caspar has abondoned. I'm not sure who now
takes over the mantle, but as I said before, someone has to be last.

Jalabert leads the bunch, with a revitalized looking Martinez
immediately trailing him over the crest of the Madeleine, gaining 35
points toward retaining the KoM Jersey which he wears (along with the
red number of the Most Aggressive Rider competition). Y'know, I almost
want to apologize for all of the Larry Jellybert jokes I've made...
Heading down the hill, Martinez wishes he had about 20 more pounds of
body weight, as he seems to be the only rider in the group who has to
pedal.
O'Grady popped away from the restrained group and has already come
across to the the gang of four - so we have a fast-descending Gang of
Five... There's actually another sprint point out on the roadway, and
his gutsy descending style should move him away from any challengers
unless the afterburners really get turned on in the yellow jersey group.

7:44 behind, George-flippin-Hincapie leads the bunch over the top.
George is clearly having an incredible Tour, and I wonder what they did
to his training to give him such effectiveness in the mountains.

Now well down the mountain, Boogerd screams along the snaking solo
descent - showing more technique than perhaps he's known for, hammering
out of the saddle whenever momentum declines.  The Gang of Five gets the
moto camera following it around amazingly steep, narrow and twisty
roadways.  Jalabert and O'Grady lead the others through the tricky bits.
Martinez might be wishing for just a speck of that fork travel he traded
away when he moved to the road.

Pavel Padrnos and George Hincapie's lead on the descent have caused a
gap to split in the main group. They are still about 7 minutes back.
But, the helicopter pictures don't really support this report, as the
long snake of the bunch seems intact, if extended. Roughly 42 km to go
as they approach the former Olympic town of Albertville. They don't
actually go through town, instead turning upvalley and then uphill. In
the chasing Gang of Five, the descending master class continues, as
these riders go faster down roads they've never seen than most of us can
manage on descents we ride every day.

With 25 miles to go, and the last 12 and half up hill, Boogerd has
developed the steely gaze of someone who plans to stay away.

Axel Merckx flies forward and reattaches to the group, making six stuck
between.  His descending abilities are certainly evident.

Back in the house of the yellow jersey, Roberto Heras drifts back to the
team car and hands in his racing cape and takes on a bottle of go-juice.

O'Grady rolls forward to get what he wanted - 4 Sprint Points.  He
certainly knows the necessity of each point on the roadway - learned
that last year on the Champs Elysees....

Large drops of sweat drop away from Boogerd's chin as he rolls along
toward his date with the climb of La Plagnie. Mentally prepped, he's
notched into the saddle and knows what kind of pain lies before him.
Clearly, he's committed.

Back in the leaders group, iBanesto.com has been gathering a few riders
up front, swapping with the USPS boys. They are 7:23 behind on the
roadway as they go under the sprint point.  Even though the climb is
listed as only covering the last 12 miles, the roadway continues to edge
upwards for the rest of the race.  Even the flats are not too terribly
flat...

28 km to go, with the official part of the climb begining in about
another 9 km.  Boogerd rolls along, ready, .

In the main field, the pace has edged up, driving the pace and cutting a
quick 30 seconds off of Boogerd's lead.  It may be a quick death, but it
will be a valiant effort. The pack strings out and close down within
three minutes of the small chasing group that lies between them and the
Dutchman.  They scoop up Marcos Serrano, and slots in next to Joseba
Beloki.  Leipheimer sits behind Chechu Rubiera, and Ivan Basso has
marked Leipheimer.  Behind them, ONCE tries to pull togther enough
riders for a squad photo. Armstrong is in the enviable position of not
having to do anything but react, and perhaps they have a plan in the
works to put Heras over the line first.  Obviously, they would have to
track down and catch Boogerd to win this stage.

Johan Bruyneel rolls up in the USPS team car, chatting quickly with
Armstrong. He may also be pulling out the choke and trying to get the
engine to burn a little rich for the guys behind pleasure.  The 6 man
chasing group rolls under the 25 km to go banner, and have lost some
time, now sitting 4:45 behind Boogerd. That's interesting The peloton
comes through at exactly 7 minutes behind - exactly 5 km behind.

I must be a little tired, I just found myself seriously watching Bob
Villa's presentation of the latest Craftsman drill tool set...

Back in the cycling world, Boogerd is on the climb now, the lonley Tete
de la Course. He has been in the lead for 120 km. The bends before him
are numbered in a similar fashion to Alp d'Huez.  18 big bends, counted
down to the top.   He has over 5 minutes lead over the immediate chase
group, who must be mentally recharging themselves as they slide back a
bit.  But, off the front of the chase group, Stuart O'Grady moves his
burly body off the front, gapping them all and deciding that he might
take a go at being a climber... Or, he's just trying to get that last
little bit of momentum which will carry him up the next rise - and that
rise is a mere 1970 meters, with 16 km pitching upwards at around 7%
average gradiant.

Axel Merckx falls away a bit, after trying to match the accelleraton of
Iban Mayo.  They now straddle O'Grady, who has found the pace he'll hold
to the top.
Jalabert eases up a bit as well, conserving energy and gearing his
efforts to hold onto the polka dot jersey. They are stringing out in the
6 man chase group, which is now more like 6 one man efforts at not
blowing sky-high.

Carlos Sastre from CSC-Tiscali  moves away from the Armstrong group,
Rubiera easing up the pace to match his efforts.  They slowly regain the
attacker, but toward the back of this select group, riders scramble to
hold the tail of the group - gaps appearing like mosquitos at lakeside.
Kivilev falls back with many others. Now Sastre moves out again, and
this time manages to hold his gap.  Off the back, Frigo, Virenque and
others suffer and drop away.  Up front, Armstrong simply follows the
pace set by Rubiera, calmly knowing that it falls to the others to
attack today. They catch Jalabert, and now gobble up O'Grady. One time
leader of this year's Tour, Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano begins to falter
on the climb, and drifts away behind the heightened pace.

Sastre heads for the sky, jersey wide open, catching Merckx and Turpin.
Up ahead, Boogerd does the sufferin-B dance, notched into a rhythm that
only he can hear. The lead group catches Merckx and Turpin, Rubiera
still pounding out the pace as Lance looks calm, Heras following
directly behind Joseba Beloki.   The pace stays solid, and Turpin and
Merckx keep going right out the back of the bunch.

Sastre now runs up and flips right past Iban Mayo, coursing through
another switchback. With 5:16 as the posted time gap, he rolls under the
10 km to go banner.  Mayo dribbles through the Armstrong group, gapped
and now flailing as the heads of state continue to punch out the
relentless rhythm.  Boogerd shoulder wobbles his way up.  Another new
game you can play at home:  count how many idiots are on their cell
phones waving to their friends as the Tour cameras go past.

Rubiera still sitts at the front, Armstrong sits in, patient and
powerful..

Sastre goes under the 10 km at 4:26 back, ticking out a beautiful pace,
raising out of the saddle to maintain the momentum.  The select group of
leaders roll under the banner at 5:06. Heras moves up from mid pack,
causing a shudder of worry to pass over the faces of Rumsas and Beloki.

A tiny French  boy runs along nexst to Boogerd for 20 steps or so, voice
already cracked and raspy by yelling for goodies from the  publicity
caravan, yet he manages to harass the Dutch rider with a series of
"AllezAllezAllez!!!".

His Rabobank counterpart, Levi Leipheimer is hanging on, second to last
in the ever-shrinking select group.

7.37 km to go for Boogerd, and he'll feel every bit.

Sastre has a steely look in his eye, but a bit more of a furrow creeping
into his brow.  Still, he's managed to cut down the gap to 3:43 and
moved slightly further from the group. Around another swinging turn,
momentum high, he keeps rolling upwards.

Davide Moncoutier - Cofidis leader and the highest placed Frenchman -
suddenly runs out of gears and gets hacked off the back of the group.
He's looking at sadly departing rear tires - which puts Leipheimer as
the caboose on the group. The pitch increases, and Armstrong hikes up
out of the saddle as they swig around yet another switchback.

Boogerd's advantage sits only at 3:11, as he stiffens his back slightly,
trying to find more leverage for the legs.  Sastre has managed to raise
the pace again.  Mancebo from iBanesto.com sudenly tumbles behind
Leipheimer, trying to find his power.  Botero has also dribbled away
from Leipheimer.  No-longer-way-up-front Boogerd heads for the 5 km to
go banner, the clock is running, and the distance shrinking.

Rubiera chucks it for the day, and Roberto Heras takes up the bit.
Heras' jersey still isn't unzipped, and he begins to set the same
incredible pace he's been showing for this entire tour.  Francisco
Mancebo accompanies Rubiera away to try to make the line in one
another's company..

Sastre has been eating into the lead still and goes under at 2:28 the 5
km banner.

Botero now drops away from the group.  Hunched like a hungover table
dancer and the Armstrong group goes under 5 km at 3:10.

Boogerd is beginning to pedal squares, as battling Bruno Botero tries to
regain the leader's chase group.

Boogerd knows there's no easy way up, nothing to do but suffer and try
to hold his gap. There is no flat bits or reduction in the gradiant of
this climb.  Just up, and up until your soigneur catches you.

Armstrong has flown. No warning, just up on his toes and away from the
others int he group.  No reaction.  No one can go with him.  Rumsas
cannot lift his pace an iota. Beloki has a glob of drool on his
forearm.  Basso looks up and says, "y'know, I look good in this here
White Best Young Rider Jersey." Leipheimer hangs on to the group, but
may not be able to focus on what is happening at the front of it.

Remember, Boogerd nipped Lance at the Amstel Gold race!  There might be
an bit of vengence in his attack.

Armstrong is only seconds behind Saastre, and they have pulled all the
motos out of the the way between them.   The crowd begisn to go insane
as Armstrong hits warp speed on the pitches of La Plagnie.  Just to put
it in perspecitve  - if we were on the flat, we couldn't match his speed
on this climb.  There's only about a 6 or 7 second gap, and Armstrong
can now see him through the crowds.  Sastre sits in Armstrong's sigthts,
and the high cadence of Armstrong is threatening to create its own
weather pattern.  It was as if Lance saw the "X" on the roadway, hit the
go pedal,  and moves ahead of Sastre at the 2 km to go banner.

Boogerd drags his way under the 1 km to go banner, and Sastre manages to
hold onto Armstrong's wheel.

The wreckage floats up the mountain on the rising tide - Beloki is
whimpering like a schoolgirl and trying to follow the pace of his
teammate.  Leipheimer hangs onto the back, Heras watching the painful
efforts of everyone from the catbird seat in the back.

Lance is now under the 1 km banner. Sastre still hangs onto his wheel,
redoubling his efforts to stick with him. Boogerd must be nearing the
last bits, as the hits the padals and tries to keep going - he's running
on fumes - but, the smile breaks through finally. He rides at the head
of affairs ahead of all the cars - he still seesm as if he cannot
believe that he will win.  Through the delerium of climbing he can't
bother to zip up his jersey.  He crosses the line amazed and radiant -
winning the stage!  Crossing the line, the gradient continues.  Boogerd
cannot even get himself off his bike, and a soigneur grabs him and tries
to detach his numb feet from the pedals.  Boogerd cries tears of joy.

Less than two minutes behind, Armstrong still hammers the pace, dragging
Sastre to the line, then easing up to Sastre to take second.  Armstrong
still looks like he's on a training ride. Beloki struggles up at 2:02.
Rumsas again sucking right on his wheel.  Leipheimer only a few moments
behind.  Botero and Heras roll home and look for the team bus.

Stage 16 - Les Duex Alpes - La Plagne - 179.5km
1 - Michael Boogerd - Rabobank - 5:48:29
2 - Carlos Sastre - CSC-Tiscali @ 1:25
3 - Lance Armstrong - USPS @ 1:25
4 - Joseba Beloki - ONCE @ 2:02
5 - Raimondas Rumsas - Lampre @2:02
6 - Levi Leipheimer - Rabobank @ 2:10
7 - Ivan Basso - Fasso Bortolo @ 2:14
8 - Jose Azevedo - ONCE @ 2:14
9 - Santiago Botero - Kelme @ 2:23
10 - Roberto Heras - USPS @ 2:25

GC
Malliot Juane - Lance Armstrong - 68 hrs 43:22
2 - Joseba Beloki - 5:06
3 - Ramondas Rumsas - 7:24
4 - Jose Azevedo - 12:08
5 - Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano - 12:12
6 - Francisco Mancebo - 12:28
7 - Santiago Botero - 12:37
8 - Roberto Heras - 12:54
9 - Levi Leipheimer - 13:58
10 - Ivan Basso - 15:04
11 - Carlos Sastre - 16:27
12 - Michael Boogerd - 17:32

Everyone loses time today, while Jose Azevedo jumps in front of the
struggling Gonzalez de Galdeano.
Leipheimer nicks a few seconds off of Botero and Heras, positioning
himself well to make up time on Heras in the final time trial on
Saturday.  He's clearly continuing to find improving form in the tougher
stages. And I had to list the top twelve places soas to reflect the
stunning efforts of Michael Boogerd today.


If you have missed any of the race reports so far, they are archived at:

http://www.cyclofiend.com


Stage 17 - The last of the Big Mountains
Aime to Cluses - 142 km
Four sharp Category 1 climbs await the riders, before an ear-flapping
descent into the finish at Cluses.  Short and painful, a great day for
all the riders to see what they are lackng in their legs after the
tumultuous climbs in the Alps so far.  Two sprint points, so watch
McEwen, O'Grady and Zabel duke it out for maximum points.
h