Stage 13

[triplehorn]

With the news of Lance's teammate Levi Leipheimer done as a result of a broken wrist (scaphoid bone at base of hand), and pretty heavy rain in the mountains today, this stage just got a lot more unpredictable.

The lead group of non-GC contenders just crossed the top of Col de la Schlucht.

 

[triplehorn]

They've started the ascent of the Platzerwasel. Sounds like they're past the hardest part of it with stretches in excess of 10% incline. Currently 6km from the summit. Astana appears to be in control of the main group with no surprises from the others so far.

 

[triplehorn]

Team Astana's pace up the Platzerwasel is beginning to take a toll on the rest. The time gap between Astana's chase group and the 3 riders in the lead has shrunk from 6min a few minutes ago to ~4min. Still two more climbs before the finish after they get over this one.

 

[triplehorn]

Lance punched it over the Platzerwasel. Looking good. Gap from 2 leaders down to 3 min. Two more climbs to go. It's cold and nasty out there.

 

[WhiteH2O Horn]

Nice little kick there by Armstrong in the last couple hundred meters on the Platzerwasel. While it didn't destroy anyone, it certainly stretched out the GC group a bit. Glad to see Contador follow but not freak out and try to surge ahead.

 

[TexonLongIsland]

I think AC did give a little surge to get over the top before Lance. Lance seemed to look over at him with a WTF?

 

[triplehorn]

I figured someone would have taken advantage of Leipheimer's injury to attack Astana should they be in early strategic disarray.

But so far Astana hasn't loosened their control riding at the front one bit.

 

[Bevo Incognito]

Heinrich Haussler has to be a happy man tonight!

 

[WhiteH2O Horn]

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[TexonLongIsland]

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[WhiteH2O Horn]

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[JohnnyM]

So where are you guys expecting the most battles/sorting out?

After tomorrow it looks like every day is going to be massively important.

 

[accuratehorn]

I would guess the team director would like the team to be together for as long as possible, but I don't know how much longer he can maintain discipline in the ranks. If they could ride as a team all the way to Mt. Ventroix, I'm sure at that point he would have to split them into two groups, or just let the contenders have at each other, but it may happen any day now. Really, they have kept it together amazingly well so far.

 

[JohnnyM]

If they made it to Ventoux as a team...wow, that would be some drama. Part of me wants that for the suspense, but another part just wants to see battles every day from here out.

 

[badexcuse]

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[mandingo]

w....t....f?

 

[nimrodxi]

I think Lance was just checking what gear AC was in.

 

[2003TexasGrad]

Mandingo, Im surprised things like that dont happen more often with as close to the riders the fans get on the roadsides.... Remember when Lances bike got caught in I think a fan's plastic bag and he went down hard? He got back up, but man that was scary.