As it really should be, the 2006 Tour de France came down to a battle in the final time trial. American Floyd Landis became the third American to wear the yellow jersey going into Paris, the 11th time a U.S. rider has won the race since Greg LeMond first achieved that feat 20 years ago this week.As he has been throughout this Tour, photographer Casey Gibson was there to capture the moment.
Discovery's Jose Azevedo wore No. 1 throughout this Tour, but Landis will wear it next year.
Mavic track wheel finds uses on the road, too.
When it comes to Tour de France technology, nothing brings out the big-ticket items quite like a time trial. Most of the ProTour bikes on display Saturday at the start in Le Creusot cost more than that first car you bought in college. Heck, the BMC TT machine piloted by new yellow jersey holder Floyd Landis is probably worth more than the car I drive to work right now. With its carbon water bottle cage and crank cover, Landis’s ride is at the leading edge of the technology movement. But Floyd wasn’t the only rider piloting a tricked out machine. Here’s a look at some of the other TT bikes
Dave Zabriskie remains the only American to have won stages in all three grand tours.
Pinarello's TT bike
57k by yourself. That’s a long way (especially if you’ve already put in 3445.6 over the last three weeks) and to drive the point home the organizers were kind enough to put out signs up starting with 50k-to-go reminding you that you will be riding by yourself without any assistance for an absurd amount of time. There were no real surprises today other than Oscar riding the TT of his life for a podium place that he rightfully doesn't really, 100 percent deserve, but even as I say that, I contradict myself. He was a great fighter these last few days and impressed many of us along the way.
Sergei Gontchar won both major time trials in this year's Tour
Davitamon-Lotto’s Ridley TT machine
Robbie Hunter of South Africa will be the one Phonak rider who won’t be entering Paris in Triumph on Sunday. Hunter was eliminated from the race after the penultimate stage for missing the time cut. He crossed the line 18:09 – one minute and 11 seconds outside the permitted time limit. He later explained to a friend in a text message: “I rode the whole time trial standing because of saddle sores .My arse is in pieces. What a way to end the Tour.” It is believed that Hunter last night traveled to Paris from the time trial finish at Montceau-les Mines, but was not permitted to travel with
And gets another moment of glory on the podium.
Floyd Landis's BMC - good enough to win a Tour on.
The winning move
Wrolich leads the peloton on the descent
Course: Although there are Cat. 2, Cat. 3 and Cat. 4 climbs in the middle section of this 197km stage from the Alps through the Jura mountains to the Saône Valley, the whole course is on wide routes nationales. The stage is likely to open with constant attacks before a breakaway establishes itself on the hills in the middle part of the stage. The last 50km are almost completely flat before the 400-meter final straightaway in the northern part of Mâcon. History: Besides two time trials (won by Induráin in 1991 and Armstrong in 2000), the only road stage to finish in Mâcon was 15 years ago.
Pereiro holds yellow – but for how long?
Zabriskie shows fine form in the break.
“Son, when you participate in sporting events, it's not whether you win or lose: It's how drunk you get.”—Homer Simpson None of my colleagues in the cycling press thought to ask Floyd Landis the two questions I wanted answered after Stage 17: What kind of beer were you drinking last night, and where can I get some? This is what happens when a magazine sends amateur tipplers to cover a sporting contest of this magnitude. John Wilcockson may have written up 39 Tours de France, but I’ll bet you a case of Deschutes Brewery’s Twilight Ale that I can drink that skinny Limey under the
Landis remains confident – thirsty, but confident
Matteo Tosatto collected Italy’s first victory of the 2006 Tour de France in a broiling transition stage over the Jura Mountains. There were no major shakeups in the overall as everyone is looking ahead to Saturday’s decisive final time trial. The Quick Step-Innergetic rider out-shot compatriot Cristian Moreni (Cofidis) to win Friday’s 197km 18th stage, which ran from the cool heights of Morzine onto the sticking hot flats along the Saône, out of a 15-man breakaway that included Americans Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner) and Dave Zabriskie (CSC). “To be the first Italian to win this year is
Floyd Landis and Phonak chief Andy Rihs
The Mailbag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.Land-IS the man!Editor:That should be the copy for the first issue after the Tour: "Land-IS the Man.” Or better yet, maybe you should have some contest for the title! Thanks for the coverage. Sean ReesPortland, Oregon Any relation to Lazarus Long?Editor:I have a new nickname for Floyd,
Pereiro wants a spot on that podium
1. Matteo Tosatto (I), Quick Step-Innergetic, 197km in 4:16:15 (46.126kph)2. Cristian Moreni (I), Cofidis, 00:003. Ronny Scholz (G), Gerolsteiner, 00:024. Manuel Quinziato (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, 00:475. Sébastien Hinault (F), Credit Agricole, 01:036. Jérôme Pineau (F), Bouygues Telecom, 01:037. Sylvain Calzati (F), Ag2r Prevoyance, 01:038. Vaugrenard Benoít (F), Francaise des Jeux, 01:039. Inaki Isasi (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 01:0310. Egoi Martinez (Sp), Discovery Channel, 01:03 11. Mario Aerts (B), Davitamon-Lotto, 01:0312. Patrik Sinkewitz (G), T-Mobile, 01:0313. Juan Antonio Flecha (Sp),
The big Italian scores one for the home folk
First SRAM asked consumers to make the leap – now it’s hoping a ProTour team will, too. VeloNews has learned that SRAM and Saunier Duval-Prodir are in the midst of talks that could make the Spanish-based team the first ProTour squad to roll out on the American company’s new Force road group. According to Saunier Duval-Prodir director Joxean Fernández, his team is in “conversation” with SRAM and its current gruppo provider, Campagnolo. “We have tried SRAM and there was no problem,” said Fernández. “What we want to avoid is having problems throughout the season. It’s a new product, so we
Stage Stats: Stage 18 by the numbers
Sebastian Moll caught up with Phonak chief Andy Rihs for a chat about the team’s ups and downs, drugs in cycling and the ProTour. And some of the things Rihs had to say, particularly as regards doping, may surprise you. Here’s a transcript. VeloNews: After six years with many ups and downs Phonak is racing for the Tour victory. Is that a happy ending for you? Andy Rihs: For me a Tour victory would count more than 1000 Olympic gold medals. People remember a Tour winner for 100 years. If I would tell reporters about hearing aids, they wouldn’t be interested. That’s why I need cycling as a
Stage Stats: Stage 18 by the numbers
Caisse d'Epargne’s Oscar Pereiro is already preparing to part with cycling's biggest prize ahead of a 57km time trial on the penultimate stage of the Tour de France on Saturday. However, he's hoping against hope that he can produce the performance of a lifetime to save his yellow jersey. After one of the most dramatic and entertaining races in years, the Spaniard goes into the decisive race against the clock with a 12sec lead on CSC's Carlos Sastre and a 30sec advantage on Phonak's Floyd Landis -and knowing his back is against the wall. The American is the big
Do you need a hand? I've put a few of these on before.
WeatherSunny to partly sunny all day, highs 30-34C Stage winnerMatteo Tosatto (Quick Step), 4h16:15, 46.127kph – The Italian veteran edged compatriot Cristian Moreni (Cofidis) and Ronny Scholz (Gerolsteiner) in a three-up sprint after counter-attacking a 15-man breakaway that pulled away about 50km into the transition stage over the Jura Mountains of eastern France. It was the first stage-win for Italy and Tosatto’s Quick Step team. Race leaderOscar Pereiro (Caisse d’Epargne), 3,445.8km, 84h33:04, 40.748kph – There were no major changes in the top 12. American Levi Leipheimer
No stage win, but Levi gets the prize for being aggressive
A hot day in the sun, as race favorites allow a break to move ahead in a hunt for glory - at least a day's worth. From start to finish, our guy Casey Gibson was there.
Millar and Popovych tried an early escape
Stage 18: Morzine-Avoriaz to Mâcon - 197km
The peloton was more intent on staying cool than catching the break
Stage 18: Morzine-Avoriaz to Mâcon - 197km
One more day in yellow for Pereiro
Mmmm ... beer
Recording it all for posterity... and photo contracts
Tosatto wins
French scouts made sure to greet every car in the caravan
Leipheimer and Isasi have a go
Captain America? We checked. He's from Belgium.
American Floyd Landis, who suffered such a spectacular implosion on Wednesday, is once again the yellow-jersey favorite after claiming a first-ever stage victory in the race following a third straight day of drama in the Alps. And Belgian legend Eddy Merckx, whose son Axel rides in Landis's Phonak team, played a part in his resurrection. Landis started the day with a deficit of eight minutes and eight seconds to Caisse d’Epargne’s Oscar Pereiro, having lost the yellow jersey to the Spaniard during his stunning collapse on stage 16. But thanks to some personal faith, and a telephone
Landis knows how to make up for an off day: Follow it with an on day
Stage 17 was not Klöden's best day
Andréas Klöden saw third place in the 2006 Tour de France slip away from him during Thursday's 200.5km stage from St. Jean de Maurienne to Morzine as American Floyd Landis (Phonak) staged an astounding comeback from his collapse of the day before, winning the last Alpine stage and bumping Klöden down into fourth with just three stages remaining. Sebastian Moll caught up with the German T-Mobile rider for a quick chat; here's the transcript. VeloNews: How are you feeling at the end of three weeks of the Tour de France? Andréas Klöden: I'm pretty much at my limit, like everyone
The chase begins
WeatherSunny to partly sunny all day, highs 30-34C Stage winnerFloyd Landis (Phonak), 5h23:36, 37.176kph – Landis soloed to victory and vaulted back into contention overall in one of the most remarkable comebacks in cycling history. Less than 24 hours after tumbling out of the top 10 while bonking in the yellow jersey, the gritty Pennsylvanian refused to give up. Attacking at the base of the Col des Saises, Landis reeled in and then dropped an early break. The others left the chase too late and he soared down the Col de Joux-Plane to win his first career Tour stage, just the ninth American
Landis on a nice little 150km individual TT
Stage 17: St. Jean de Maurienne to Morzine-Avoriaz -200.5km
Menchov was among the day's most notable victims
Stage 17: St. Jean de Maurienne to Morzine-Avoriaz -200.5km
Leipheimer joins the Discovery gang on the final climb to Joux-Plane
Landis punches the air in exultation as he wins the stage and climbs back into third place overall
It was an especially long day in the saddle for some
Phonak steps up the pace on the Col des Saisies...
Sinkewitz drops back to help Kloden.. and looks a little worried about the guy. Is Kloden smiling or is that a grimace?
We got your panache right here, pal. Whether he intended to or not, Landis offered up a good answer to his critics.
Hincapie looks for the top of the climb
Course: This is almost identical to the stage in 2000 when Marco Pantani attacked on the first climb (the 15km, 6.4-percent Saisies) and forced Armstrong’s U.S. Postal squad to chase for 100km over the Aravis, Colombière and Châtillon climbs to the foot of the day’s main obstacle: the mighty Col de Joux-Plane (11.7km at 8.7 percent). It was partway up the Joux-Plane that Armstrong bonked and could only watch as Ullrich and others rode away from him, and he conceded almost two minutes by the finish in Morzine. History: Morzine has seen 13 finishes of the Tour, including that one six years
T-Mobile and CSC had to take up the chase after Pereiro's Caisse d'Epargne team evaporated before the Joux Plane.
Chris Horner has fans out there
In one of the most audacious and bravest rides seen in the modern era of the Tour de France, Phonak’s American rider Floyd Landis turned the despair of his stage 16 implosion into a stage-winning breakaway that put him back into the role of favorite to win this extraordinary race. Landis stunned Tour de France observers when he lost more than 10 minutes on the slopes to La Toussuire on Wednesday; but they were floored by his performance in Thursday’s 200.5km stage from St. Jean de Maurienne to Morzine, the last day in the Alps. Heading into the Tour’s three-day finale, Spaniard Oscar
Landis sets off on his own.
Whew! Pereiro holds on to his jersey with 12 seconds to spare
1. Floyd Landis (USA), Phonak, 200.5km in 5:23:362. Carlos Sastre (Sp), CSC, 05:423. Christophe Moreau (F), Ag2r Prevoyance, 05:584. Damiano Cunego (I), Lampre, 06:405. Michael Boogerd (Nl), Rabobank, 07:086. Frank Schleck (Lux), CSC, 07:087. Oscar Pereiro Sio (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne-I.B., 07:088. Andréas Klöden (G), T-Mobile, 07:089. Haimar Zubeldia (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 07:0810. Cadel Evans (Aus), Davitamon-Lotto, 07:20 11. Mickael Rasmussen (Dk), Rabobank, 07:2412. Denis Menchov (Rus), Rabobank, 07:2413. Patrik Sinkewitz (G), T-Mobile, 07:2414. Tadej Valjavec (SLO), Lampre,
Pereiro fought valiantly and keeps the jersey another day
What a difference a day makes: Landis, after Wednesday's devastating loss, found new resolve...over a quiet beer with team director John Lelangue
The German winner of the 1997 Tour de France and his Spanish teammate were suspended by their T-Mobile team just before the current Tour after being linked, with more than 50 other cyclists, to the Operation Puerto investigation. The prosecutor's office here, where T-Mobile has its head office, said it had opened its own investigation into the matter in response to a fraud complaint lodged by an academic and former athlete. "The procedure arises following the lodging of a complaint for fraud and breaches of the law concerning medications," said prosecutor Monika Nostadt-Ziegenberg.
Landis nears the top of the Joux Plane
Sastre is 12 seconds out of the lead... with Landis 18 seconds behind.
Dear readers;Last column, in "TheBUI Blues", we had a letter from J.C. in Oregon, who asked about the difference in penalties between a DUI and a BUI. This column, we have more letters from readers about DUIs. It’s gotta be the hot days and cold beers and stiff penalties.Don’t Fence Me InFirst, R.S. wrote from South Dakota to sayWhew! After reading the latest information regarding those poor souls who live in CA and OR, I'm glad our State legislators (South Dakota) have the common sense to realize that BUI is only a threat to the rider, and not to society at large, and is not an crime,
Saturday Time Trial takes on added significance
Halgand emerged at the front of the break... but faltered later when caught and passed by Landis
After the second major shake-up in the overall standings of the Tour de France in as many days, Saturday's 57-kilometer individual time trial from Le Creusot to Montceau les Mines takes on even more importance. Indeed, it could be the most significant Tour de France time trial since the final stage showdown between Laurent Fignon and Greg LeMond in 1989. Perhaps the best indicator of how current race leaders may fare on Saturday is how they performed in Stage 7's 52km TT from St. Gregoire to Rennes. That stage was, of course, won by Sergei Gontchar of T-Mobile, who covered the
Saturday Time Trial takes on added significance
Landis on the Aravis: Still making time on the peloton, with Sinkewitz and O'Grady in tow.