[Le Tour 2003]Stage 14 - Pyrenees: Chapter 2

[Tour Reporter]

Stage 14 - St. Girons - Loudenville - 191 km

Today's stage has the profile of a saw blade.  With the exception of the 
final climb of the Col de Peyresourde, which drops only 400 meters to 
the finishing town of Loudenville, each of the categorized climbs in 
today's stage drop all the way down to the starting altitude or beyond. 
  Somehow, they've also stuck in two sprint points - once hilariously 
enough in the short speck of flat roads between the 2nd to last and 
final climbs.

My guess is that won't matter a damn by the time the big dogs howl and 
mothers whisk their children from the streets.  In the dark corner of a 
shady bar, the assassins sharpen their knives and prepare themselves. 
Blood will run in the gutters of southwestern France either today or on 
tomorrow's Col d'Aspin/Col du Tourmalet/Luz Ardiden trifecta.

The only question which remains is "Whose?" and "How Much?"

In yesterday's post-race interviews, Lance Armstrong spoke about losing 
some 12 pounds of water weight during the Individual Time Trial.  If 
that is an accurate statement, it would go a long way to explaining (A) 
why he continued to drift off the pace of Ullrich during the TT and (B) 
why he was in trouble on the climbs of yesterday's stage.  He's also 
said that he's feeling better, and getting better, and expects to ride 
better in the days to come. It will be intresting to see if those 
prognostications come true.

Seeing Lance actually get dropped near the top of yesterday's final 
climb boggled the mind.  It has happened, of course during a Tour in 
which he won - when he stumbled on the climbs on a long stage in which 
he had hunger knock and had to pull in his horns and work to limit his 
losses.  But after the past few years' dominance, he has taken on the 
air of one who does not make mistakes and does not have bad days.  I've 
heard people say that he makes it look easy.

Well, easy it may look, but the Tour has way too many variables to be 
taken for granted.  Lance has always raced smart, and his reflexes and 
technical riding skill have generally kept him out of trouble.  This 
year, he began the Tour with a well-concealed intestinal problem, got 
thwacked in the back during the nasty everyone-hits-the-pavement crash 
in the dogleg of the first stage finish, and has suffered through the 
staggering heatwave of summer 2003.  Yet, he has avoided horrific 
accidents like that which claimed Beloki and answered all the attacks 
but one so far.

Halfway through today's stage, the riders will pass the monument to 
Fabio Casartelli, Lance's teammate who was killed in the 1995 Tour. 
That monument has inspired Lance before, and it will be interesting to 
see what result it has today.

Climbing on today's stage is somewhere in the neighorhood of 15,600 
feet.  Richard Virenque got all crackly early on today, nabbing points 
on all three of the starting climbs of the day, while inspiring a 
breakaway of 17 riders to stay away. He eyes the points for the Col de 
Monte as he animates the attack on the Category 1 climb.

Euskatel-Eukadi has taken up the reins to bring things together, as they 
feel the need to get a stage victory in front of the throngs of fans who 
wear orange, wave the Basque flag and shriek like banshees whenever one 
of their sons rides anywhere near them.

Manuel Beltran quietly hides in the breakaway, for the second day USPS 
relies upon the extreme depth of their squad to give them a tactical 
advantage.

Others have lost all advantage: Today's Hit List includes Rene 
Hasselbacher and Davide Rebellin from Gerolsteiner, Rik Verbrugghe of 
Lotto, Robbie Hunter of Rabobank, and Andrej Hauptman of Vini Caldirola, 
all of whom have dropped out during today's stage.  Yesterday, ONCE's 
Jan Hruska slipped quietly into the team car.

Still out on the roadway, the sprinters are already in a world of hurt, 
as Lotto's Robbie McEwen in trouble, sliding back into the team cars 
along with with Fredy Rodriguez of Vini Caldirola, who bleeds sweat like 
he's got a bucket pouring above his head.

11 or 12 riders - depending upon who has drifted out the back on the 
steeper pitches - have coalesced from the bunch that went out at around 
the 12 km point, drifting somewhere inside of 10 minutes in the lead of 
the big boys.

3 - Manual Beltran - USPS
17 - Mikel Pradera - ONCE
27 - Daniele Nardello - Telekom
51 - Gilberto Simoni - Saeco
76 - Andrea Peron - CSC
111 - Richard Virenque - Quckstep
112 - Paolo Bettini - Quickstep
118 - Michael Rogers - Quickstep
153 - Alexandre Botcherov - Ag2R
169 - Steve Zampieri - Vini Caldirola
182 - Walter Beneteau - Brioches La Boulengere
201 - Laurent Dufaux - Alessio

Virenque follows the leadout of teammate Michael Rogers and takes 
maximum points and begins the descent down the Col de Mente to the town 
of Saint-Beat.  It is a highly technical descent under increasing cloud 
cover on a blessedly cooler day.

There are 5 or 6 riders stretched out between the lead bunch and the 
still-climbing bunch which contains Lance Armstrong and those who would 
wear his jersey.  Bianchi team riders are tapping out the tempo, just 
behind an Euskatel Rider, who crest the climb a bit over 9 minutes 
behind the leaders.

Virenque has nearly twice the Mountain Points of the next rider, and if 
he continues to the finish in Paris, it will be only the third time that 
a rider will win the KoM jersey for six times.

Simoni has the freedom of a rider who is almost an hour an a half 
behind, and aggressively helps set the rotation of the bunch while they 
move through the valley which will give them the only flat bits they 
will encounter since the first climb of the stage began.

The breakaway has about 8 minutes on the group of the Yellow Jersey. 
Phil finds significance in the fact that Lance has gathered his troops 
further back in the group - finding worry in that fact.  Michael Rogers 
takes a hard pull for teammate Virenque, pulls off and simply cracks on 
the climb of the Col de du Portillon as Laurent Dufaux throws it up a 
gear and rockets out.  A savage selection occurs as only Virenque and 
Simoni can hold his wheel on this climb.  Rogers falls immediately away, 
follows by Pradera.

Trying to hold their own on the roadway Beltran, Peron, Zampieri, 
Nardello and Botcherov find that they enjoy one another's company and 
climbing pace, and huddle together with a bit over 5 km of climbing to go.

Back in the leader's group, the expanding list of riders suddenly begins 
to contract as they hit the bottom of the climb. Everyone seeks their 
largest sprocket as they deal with the frustration of having just 
latched back on after taking chances on the descent.

Virenque sucks to the KoM line like a limpet, moving away from his 
breakaway companions to take more maximum points.  They have gained 1:21 
over the first serious chase group.

Bianchi leads the important bunch, keeping a high steady tempo while 
others find it a bit much for their quads.  Ullrich has no visible 
expression, while Lance sits a bit back and watches from inside a 
phalanx of teammates.  Wouldn't want to sit in a round of poker with 
that man either.  You can't read a thing from his expression, though his 
thoughts seem to be turned deeply inward.

If he can gap Ullrich on the final climb, I'd certainly bet on his 
descending ability against that of the big German.  Of course, Moreau 
and Vinokourov sit near the front as well.  Didier Rous shows the 
tricolor in the middle of the bunch.  They tap along 7:41 behind.  Lot's 
of Euskatel-Euskadi ornage, with Haimar Zubeldia and Iban Mayo, plus 
probably Roberto Laiseka as well.

Let's remember that the descent of the Col de Peyresourde is where 
Ullrich went ass-over-teakettle after not making a turn a couple years 
ago.  In that stage, there was another climb afterwards, and Lance 
waited for the German to regain his group before making any further 
efforts.  I'm not sure that would be replayed if the same situation 
occurred again today.

Beneteau closes down the gap to the leading trio, shakes out the legs a 
bit and  hails for the team car for whatever version of caffeine GU they 
pour in France.  He had totally blown a turn on a descent a Col ago, but 
luckily had a roadway that ran straight as well, so he had only to 
hammer the breaks, laugh a bit and then turn around to rejoin the 
course.  So, he clearly posseses some descending chops -- as does 
Simoni. They may just have enough of a gap to hold the chasers at bay. 
The quartet rolls under the 25 km to go banner - just the slight matter 
of the Category 1 climb of the Col de Peyresourde ahead of them.

The peleton zips into the town of Luchon, led still by Bianchi just a 
hiccup under 8 minutes behind the leaders.  They have not pulled back 
much time on the breakaway riders.

Simoni wrenches at his Cannondale and moves away for a few pedal strokes 
- but only Beneteau cannot close down the gap.  The sun has pushed back 
out to begin heating up the riders on this 13 km climb which averages 8%.

Bianchi pushes past Rogers and Bettini, who sheparded Virenque over the 
early climbs today.  Davide Moncoutie from Cofidis hikes up his bib 
shorts and blows around the Bianchi riders at the lead of the bunch.

Heras, Landis and another USPS rider soft-pedal at the end of the 
leaders group, hovering around the team car and beginning their recovery 
for tomorrow's epic stage. Their packets of chocolate Clif Shot recieve 
optimum coverage courtesy of the French tv cameras.

Armstrong sits in fourth behind Vinokourov, with Ullrich in second 
behind a teammate and three Euskatel-Euskadi riders - Mayo, Laiseka and 
Zubeldia - in the bunch with 10 or so select riders.  USPS rider Chechu 
Rubiera sits right in front of Armstrong, and they continue to mark the 
German's efforts.  Moncoutie withers like a sun-cooked orchid and 
shrinks back to the group, then to the back, then ... well, maybe he 
just misread the race profile.

We suddenly scream up the roadway courtesy of a espresso sucking 
photo-moto driver, to catch the leading troika roll under the 20 km to 
go banner - still unchanged in composition, but now a good 20 seconds 
ahead of Beneteau.

Moreau leads the bunch, but seems to be wondering who put the bricks on 
his rear rack as he keeps looking behind.  But, he actually guts it out 
and bends the cranks to move away up the roadway.  Ullrich responds to 
the Frenchman's acclleration, trailed immediately by Armstrong, and the 
orange Euskatel-Euskadi riders, who come up with Vinokourov in tow.

Moreau keeps looking back to see how much damage he's managed.  He moves 
again and strings out to about 20 meters, when Mayo moves up and blows 
past him - just a whole 'nother level of uphill speed in that bird-boned 
boy.  But, Ullrich and Armstrong sit back watching the events.  Now the 
spindly figure of Roberto Laiseka moves up the roadway with Vinokourov 
moving up behind him.  The group stretches as they increase pressure - 
Ullrich is still knocking out the same low cadence with the big gears he 
favors and Armstrong spinning easily behind him.

Vinokourov has continued the attack, moving up to Mayo with Moreau as 
they move away from the bunch.  He's now leading this group of three who 
zip past Beltran, now sitting up and waiting for his USPS leader.

Others grow more nervous now, as Basso sits in the front in the group 
with in with Hamilton, Ullrich and Armstrong. Watching.  Still everyone 
watching.

Moreau looks like pieces of lungs may be getting dislodged as he claws 
to stay onto the wheel of the other two.

Lance has not reacted, still waiting to see what Ullrich will do.  The 
Bianchi rider just thrums along strongly uphill.

Way up front, Simoni continues setting the pace out of the saddle, 
pumping out a brisk cadence with more than 5 km to climb, but only 25 
seconds back to Beneteau.

Moreau can no longer match the cadence of Vino and Mayo and begins to 
falter.  The select chase group which contained Ullrich, Armstrong and 
the rest of the thunder-monkeys has scattered into groups of 3 to 5 
riders. Others wobble and try to find other wheels, but Ullrich, 
Armstrong, Basso and Zubeldia move upwards as though attached.

Tyler Hamilton has slipped back a bit now matching pace with best young 
rider Denis Menchov from iBanesto, about 5 seconds behdind.

Lance dances out of the saddle for a few pedal revs and then sits 
directly behind Ullrich, who have let Vinokourov slip about 30 seconds 
up the roadway.  Will Ullrich allow Vinokourov to move past him in the 
overall?

Ullrich seems to be reaching deeper perhaps burning up some of the wick 
he might need tomorrow, while Armstrong marks him, looking very composed.

5 km to go for Mayo and Vino - they are up 40 seconds ahead of the 
Ullrich/Armstrong group.

Mayo knocks out a brisk cadence, trailing behind Vinokourov and just not 
giving a speck of help - Vinokourov tries to take a look back and he 
looks just slightly haggard.  He looks like he's trying  to determine 
how solid a 40 second lead will be when there's still a good three miles 
of climbing left, not to mention the twisting descent which follows.

Haggard though he may be, he's added to his gap by another 10 seconds. 
With another 11, he'll be the leader on the roadway.  Still Lance forces 
Ullrich to make the chase.

Up ahead Botcherov gets scooped up by the Mayo/Vinokourov pair who just 
continue to defy gravity as they move upwards. Vino now picks up a 
teammate with Nardello, who seem to have taken a page out of the USPS 
group with an early position in the first break.

The entire population of the Basque region seems to have found their way 
to the crest of the final mountain pass.  They crush in on the roadway, 
completetly obscuring it, more than 20 deep on either side.  Utter 
pandemonium reigns as push into the middle of the road as Simoni follows 
Virenque and Dufaux.

Vinokourov is given a time gap on 55 seconds in front of the 
Ullrich/Armstrong group - he's 6 seconds out of yellow.

You can barely see the riders through the forest of screaming fans. 
Even the referee's cars are dwarfed by the throngs who have taken over 
the mountaintop.  Down the roadway, Vino and Mayo have picked up 
Zampieri from the original break.  He tries to stay attached, probably 
more afraid of what will happen to him if the crowd is able to close 
back in around him.

Now Beneteau comes up to the summit less than a minute behind.  Andrea 
Peron from CSC has almost regained Beneteau and will have a 
fast-dropping carrot to follow on the treacherous descent.

Here comes Vinokourov - 1:41 behind the leaders with Mayo and Zampieri 
who has managed to stay attached.

The leaders group approaches the summit, Armstrong looking strong, 
accellerates over the front at 2:38, still in the tour lead by the 
barest of margins. There are no finish line bonuses today unless they 
can close to the lead group of the stage, so the magic gap between 
Vinokourov and the Yellow Jersey remains 61 seconds.

Crikey - who needs intervals when you can raise your heartrate like this?

It's all about the downhill, baby....

Beautiful clear sunshine for the sinuous descent.

Beneteau is said to have already halved the distance to the leading 
three. Armstrong leads the descent of the gang of four.  He keeps 
pushing the descent as Zubeldia sags a bit off the back - whether he 
doesn't want to help the riders catch Mayo or just can't quite deal with 
the G-force of yet another 180 degree hairpin is not quite clear.

Mayo has actually gapped Vino as they streak downhill - remember, Mayo 
is a fear-free descender - not necessarily a good thing.....

Armstrong group has passed through the 5 km to go banner.  Up ahead, the 
leaders three man group have reached the flats, and they take stock of 
their situation, scanning behind to see who might be gaining, and 
judging one another's strength for the final push home.  They now are 
under the 2 km to go banner, but have to negotiate a final little 
leg-cracker before the finish.  Not a classified climb, but still an 
uphill push that may catch a man or two surprised.

Now the Vino bunch is under the 2 km banner.  The leading trio takes a 
long look back down the roadway  unclear if they know how far the 
trailing riders are.

Armstrong quartet crosses under the 2 km to go banner about 40 seconds 
in back of Vinokourov.

Andrea Peron appears from nowhere to nab the bunch and he streaks 
immediately to the front as they go under the 1 km to go banner.

Virenque immediately moves himself right in the back of Peron, who 
continues to hammer like he's got a gap.  He does not and is passed by 
Virenque, who leads them into a hard right at 250 meters to go.

Simoni sees the line and guns it. They scream forward neck and neck with 
Simoni edging ahead within the final hundred meters.  Dufaux makes his 
bid for the line and pushes up to the other side of Simoni, he may have 
pressed a bit past Virenque.  But, the Giro champion will not be passed, 
and finds a bit of speed where the other two can't - he wins the three 
up sprint after the arduous series of climbs.  Screaming and arms aloft, 
today, he is a man reborn.

Now Vino screams into the final bits at he crosses 39 seconds back. 
Mayo makes a bluff at nicking him at the line. Youngster.  Zampieri 
remained attached to the trio.

Now Lance heels over into the last right and pummels the pedals.  The 
gap at the line: 1:23 - he will retain the jersey...he comes in quartet 
intact - Basso, Zubeldia, Ullrich and some guy wearin' yellow.

Moreau finds his way to the finish. Positioning hiimself as the highest 
placed Frenchman in the race.

Rain begins to hit the roof of the television booth as the coverage 
wraps up - quite a while after the riders have left. The afternoon 
showers so typical of this region begin to show.  Will the weather play 
a factor on tomorrow's massive climbs?

Stage 14 - Results
1 - Gilberto Simoni - Saeco - 5:31:52
2 - Laurent Dufaux - Alessio - s.t.
3 - Richard Virenque - QuickStep - s.t.
4 - Andrea Peron - CSC - @ :03
5 - Walter Beneteau - Brioches la Boulangere - @ :10
6 - Alexandre Vinokourov - Telekom - @ :41
7 - Iban Mayo - Euskatel-Euskadi - s.t.
8 - Steve Zampieri - Vini Caldirola - s.t.
9 - Haimar Zubeldia - Euskatel-Euskadi - 1:24
10 - Ivan Basso - Fassa Bortolo - s.t.
11 - Lance Armstrong - USPS - s.t.
12 - Jan Ullrich - Bianchi - s.t.


General Classification -
MJ - Lance Armstrong - 61:07:17
2 - Jan Ullrich - @ :15
3 - Alexandre Vinokourov - @ :18
4 - Haimar Zubeldia - @ 4:16
5 - Iban Mayo - @ 4:37
6 - Ivan Basso - @ 7:10
7 - Tyler Hamilton - CSC - @ 7:32
8 - Francisco Mancebo - iBanesto.com - @ 10:09
9 - Christophe Moreau - Credit Agricole - @ 10:09
10 - Carlos Sastre - CSC - @ 12:40

Tomorrow's Stage -
Stage 15 - Bagneres de Bigorre - Luz Ardiden
More rough stuff.  Probably rougher than stage 14, as when the riders 
cover the final 80 km of the stage, they will climb for 43 kilometers 
over three catgorized summits -- over 10,000 feet in three brutal 
climbs!  This will be the last mountain top finish in this year's Tour, 
as the riders hit first the Col d'Aspin, followed by the Hor Categorie 
Col du Tourmalet and finally the HC Luz Ardiden.  Just to keep everyone 
honest, there are three cat 4 climbs in the first 50 km, plus a couple 
of sprint points.

Today, Lance sat and watched.  He finally looked "good" on the bike - 
with no ability to quantify that statement other than watching him the 
past four tours and the beginning of this one.  But, he looked easier in 
effort, and had a bit more of his characteristic "dance" on the pedals 
when he rose from the saddle.  Afterward, he said he was worried about 
only one man - Jan Ullrich - and stated he wasn't comfortable going into 
the upcoming time trial with only a 15 second lead.  There's a rest day 
on Tuesday.  But all those factors together, and you are lead to the 
impression that big things will be afoot on the mountains of 
southwestern France.

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