[N8 v2.0]

Note: You are tuning in to today's N8 newscoverage at 157.5km/47km to go

Today's course:

Earlier news:
Lance's team car was penalized and is at the rear of the convoy because of a confruntation with a camera motorcycle yesterday....

what's happening right now...
The three leaders crest the summit of the Forclaz, Virenque, Moreau and Simoni in that order; with 20 km of descent and valley in front of them before the final climb of the Croix-Fry; the lead doesn't look to be enough to stay clear if the Postals keep up this pace.



Current race situation

*Christophe Moreau (Credit Agricole), Gilberto Simoni (Saeco), Richard *Virenque (Quick.Step)
*Armstrong/Ullich/Basso/Kloden group (20 riders) at 2'15
*Stragglers, autobuses, etc. to taste


Aldag comes over 2.12 down

16:13 CEST
The leading trio are now down the precipitous descent to the Lac d'Annecy and are now on a little rise to Bluffy. Rolf Aldag is caught by the Armstrong group and spat directly out of the back, just as a few riders including Thomas Voeckler make it back up to them. The chase has lost a bit of momentum, it appears.

 

[N8 v2.0]

16:40 CEST 183.5km/21km to go
The yellow jersey group is now down to Armstrong, Ullrich, Basso, Kloden, Landis, Azevedo, Totschnig, Karpets, Rasmussen, Leipheimer, Merckx.

Sastre bridges the gap to the three leaders.

16:41 CEST
Sastre goes straight through and only Virenque goes with him.

16:42 CEST
My colleague Jeff is still forecasting an Ullrich attack. Moreau and Simoni are caught by the Armstrong group.

16:43 CEST
Sastre drops Virenque and opens a big gap quickly. Virenque only needs to get to Paris upright now to take his seventh spotty jersey; he sits up.

16:46 CEST
All three of the former leaders are dropped by the yellow jersey goup. Virenque gets a word of acknowledgement from the race director as the cars go past.

Landis is setting the pace for Armstrong, with Azevedo in reserve. Sastre is half a minute up the road.

16:48 CEST
Sastre is digging deep into his reserves, and his lead is starting to come down again.

Current race situation

Sastre (CSC)
Armstrong, Ullrich, Basso, Kloden, Landis, Leipheimer at 0'16
Merckx, Azevedo, Rasmussen
Stragglers, autobuses, etc. to taste

 

[N8 v2.0]

16:53 CEST
Armstrong, Ullrich, Basso, Kloden, and Leipheimer are massed on Floyd Landis's back wheel; he brings them back up to Sastre.

16:54 CEST
Leipheimer is dropped.

 

[N8 v2.0]

oops...

The previous newsflash reported that Leipheimer had been dropped. That was, in fact, Rasmussen.




The leaders are nearly to the top of the final climb of the day...

 

[N8 v2.0]

16 H 54 - Landis Driving The Lead Group
Landis has been setting the tempo for the yellow jersey all the way up this final climb. The pace is too much for Leipheimer who, this time, has been dropped. There are now just six riders in the lead of the stage.
They are: Landis, Armstrong, Ullrich, Kloden, Sastre and Basso.

16:56 CEST 188.5km/16km to go
Still Landis setting the pace. Sastre is hanging on, but looks shaky.

 

[N8 v2.0]

16 H 55 - Two Riders Each For Postal, T-Mobile & CSC...
Of the six riders in the lead group three teams are represented. Landis is still setting the tempo for the yellow jersey. Basso is marking Armstrong. Then comes Ullrich, Kloden and Sastre.

 

[N8 v2.0]

16:58 CEST
Sastre loses contact. It looks as though it's going to be a five man sprint.

Current race situation

*Armstrong, Ullrich, Basso, Kloden, Landis
*Sastre
*Leipheimer
*Merckx, Azevedo, Rasmussen at ?
*Stragglers, autobuses, etc. to taste

 

[N8 v2.0]

16 H 57 - 15km To Go...
The leading six are less than 15km from the finish of the 17th stage. The final 13km are essentially downhill. Sastre has just been dropped from the lead group.


17 H 00 - Pick The Best Descender...
The deciding factor for the stage win today is who the best descender is. Keep in mind that today is very hot. The tarmac might not be quite as soggy as it was the day Joseba Beloki crashed in 2003 but it's a similar scenario as the 9th stage of last year's Tour.
Will Lance be prepared for a dangerous descent after what he saw just before the finish in Gap last year?

 

[N8 v2.0]

17 H 01 - Five Near Final Summit
Landis is still at the front of the stage. He has set the pace for Armstrong for the entire ascent of the Col de la Croix-Fry.


17:02 CEST 191km/13.5km to go
The five leaders come up to the top of the climb, still the Landis show. Kloden at the back gets slightly too much attention from a flag-wielding German fan, and has to resort to a hand-off.

Armstrong give Landis a pat on the back as they crest the summit (and keeps him in first place over the line).


Current race situation

Armstrong, Ullrich, Basso, Kloden, Landis
Sastre at 0'35
Leipheimer, Totschinig, Merckx, Azevedo, Rasmussen at 0'51
Stragglers, autobuses, etc. to taste

 

[Heidi]

Ullrich is indeed sitting on the pot. I've been watching him all morning, just waiting for him to DO SOMETHING.

 

[N8 v2.0]

17 H 02 - Lance Talks To Floyd
As the leaders passed the line at the top of the 5th climb, Armstrong had a brief chat with Landis. The support rider has now gone on the attack. Will Lance finally give one of his team-mates the chance to win a stage?


17:04 CEST
Sastre is half a minute down, followed by a quintet with Leipheimer and Merckx a big minute behind, then Karpets at 1.50

Landis is attacking on the descent...


Current race situation

*Landis, Ullrich Armstrong
*Basso, Kloden
*Sastre at 0'35
*Leipheimer, Totschinig, Merckx, Azevedo, Rasmussen at 0'51
*Karpets at 1'37
*Virenque, Mercado at 2'01
*Stragglers, autobuses, etc. to taste

 

[N8 v2.0]

17:05 CEST
Ullrich has got up to Landis, who eases up a bit. Armstrong is taking it slightly more steadily, but isn't far behind.


Current race situation

Landis, Ullrich, Armstrong in discussion
Basso, Kloden
Sastre at 0'35
Leipheimer, Totschinig, Merckx, Azevedo, Rasmussen at 0'51
Karpets at 1'37
Virenque, Mercado at 2'01
Stragglers, autobuses, etc. to taste

 

[N8 v2.0]

17 H 03 - Landis Leads By 100m...
Landis is attacking the descent. He has a lead of about 100m on Ullrich. Then comes Armstrong, Kloden and Basso.

17 H 05 - Results of Col de la Croix-Fry
The points for the final climb were won by:
1. Armmstrong
2. Landis
3. Ullrich
4. Basso
5. Kloden
6. at 40" Sastre
7. at 55" Totschnig
8. Rasmussen
9. Merckx
10. Azevedo
11. Ivanov


17:06 CEST
The three are together now, easing up. The other two catch them, and then Kloden attacks


Current race situation

Landis, Ullrich, Armstrong, Basso, Kloden
Sastre at 0'35
Leipheimer, Totschinig, Merckx, Azevedo, Rasmussen at 0'51
Karpets at 1'37
Virenque, Mercado at 2'01
Voeckler, Rogers at 4'50
Stragglers, autobuses, etc. to taste

 

[N8 v2.0]

17:07 CEST 196.5km/8km to go
Voeckler comes over the summit on the limit of the time he has to spare over Vladimir Karpets; he might just be able to hang onto the white jersey.

17:09 CEST
Still all together. Armstrong is looking hungry here.


Current race situation

*Landis, Ullrich, Armstrong, Basso, Kloden
*Sastre at 0'35
*Leipheimer, Totschinig, Merckx, Azevedo, Rasmussen at 0'51
*Karpets at 1'37
*Virenque, Mercado at 2'01
*Voeckler, Rogers at 4'50
*Stragglers, autobuses, etc. to taste

 

[N8 v2.0]

17 H 06 - Kloden Now Attacks...
Kloden is now leading the five riders at the front of the stage. Behind him is Landis, Armstrong, Basso and Ullrich. They are riding in a very close formation.

17:10 CEST
Armstrong and Landis take the opportunity for a quick word. The quintet are all watching each other now.

 

[N8 v2.0]

17 H 09 - Ullrich Now Leading
The five riders are the front of the stage are still together. It's going to be a sprint with five of the best riders in the race.
This quintet is now 5km from the finish of the stage. The winner will be either Armstrong, Landis, Ullrich, Kloden or Basso.


17:12 CEST 201.5km/3km to go
Armstrong is now leading the group himself, leaving Landis sheltered.


Current race situation

Landis, Ullrich, Armstrong, Basso, Kloden
Sastre at 0'35
Leipheimer, Totschnig, Merckx, Azevedo, Rasmussen at 0'51
Karpets at 1'37
Virenque, Mercado at 2'01
Voeckler, Rogers at 4'50
Stragglers, autobuses, etc. to taste

 

[N8 v2.0]

17 H 11 - 3km To Go
Armstrong, Landis, Ullrich, Kloden and Basso have less than 3km to race. We have not been given a time check on the 6th rider in the stage for some time, nor do we need one. The winner of the day will be one of the five riders who are currently in the lead of the stage.



Current race situation

Landis, Ullrich, Armstrong, Basso, Kloden
Sastre at 0'35
Leipheimer, Totschnig, Merckx, Azevedo, Rasmussen at 0'51
Karpets at 1'37
Virenque, Mercado at 2'01
Voeckler, Rogers at 4'50
Stragglers, autobuses, etc. to taste

 

[N8 v2.0]

17:13 CEST 202.5km/2km to go
The final kilometre of the race is a gentle climb, hard to call a winner here. Still all togethere coming though he streets of Le Grand Bornand

Landis attacks!

17:14 CEST
Ullrich chases, Armstrong on his wheel. All together at the flamme rouge.


Current race situation

Landis, Ullrich, Armstrong, Basso, Kloden
Sastre at 0'35
Leipheimer, Totschnig, Merckx, Azevedo, Rasmussen at 0'51
Karpets at 1'37
Virenque, Mercado at 2'01
Voeckler, Rogers at 4'50
Stragglers, autobuses, etc. to taste

 

[N8 v2.0]

17:14 CEST
Ullrich chases, Armstrong on his wheel. All together at the flamme rouge.

17:14 CEST
Kloden attacks and there's a gap. Landis leading the chase


Current race situation

Landis, Ullrich, Armstrong, Basso, Kloden
Sastre at 0'35
Leipheimer, Totschnig, Merckx, Azevedo, Rasmussen at 0'51
Karpets at 1'37
Virenque, Mercado at 2'01
Voeckler, Rogers at 4'50
Stragglers, autobuses, etc. to taste

 

[N8 v2.0]

17:15 CEST
Ullrich marks Landis, Armstrong on his wheel. Armstrong jumps back and just pips Kloden on the line. He wanted it most.


Current race situation

Landis, Ullrich, Armstrong, Basso, Kloden
Sastre at 0'35
Leipheimer, Totschnig, Merckx, Azevedo, Rasmussen at 0'51
Karpets at 1'37
Virenque, Mercado at 2'01
Voeckler, Rogers at 4'50
Stragglers, autobuses, etc. to taste

17 H 14 - Kloden Lead By 75m
Kloden has an impressive lead on Landis, Armstrong, Ullrich and Basso. There are 500m to go and it looks like the German champion will win the 17th stage...

 

[RideND]

That finish was insane. Armstrong is incredible!

 

[N8 v2.0]

Armstrong WINS!

17 H 15 - Lance Wins Again!
Lance has chased down Kloden and won the stage! The yellow jersey caught the German champion in the final 25m to win his 4th stage this year.


Results
1 Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal p/b Berry Floor 6.11.52
2 Andreas Klöden (Ger) T-Mobile Team
3 Jan Ullrich (Ger) T-Mobile Team
4 Ivan Basso (Ita) Team CSC
5 Floyd Landis (USA) US Postal p/b Berry Floor

General classification after stage 17

1 Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal p/b Berry Floor
2 Ivan Basso (Ita) Team CSC 3.48
3 Andreas Klöden (Ger) T-Mobile Team 5.03
4 Jan Ullrich (Ger) T-Mobile Team 7.55

 

[DRB]

RESPECT HIS FREAKIN' SPRINT.

4 stages in a row.

Well 4 mountain stages in a row....

 

[MMcG]

So Lance won this stage too!?

 

[Echo]

Lance again

 

[Nitromike]

17 H 17 - Armstrong The Unstoppable...
It doesn't matter if it's a climb, a time trial or a sprint, Lance is unstoppable this year. He has just taken the lead away from Kloden in the closing 25 meter of the 204.5km 17th stage.
We await confirmation of the minor places but it seems that Ullrich was third, Basso fourth and Landis fifth.

 

[RideND]

So Lance won this stage too!?

Yes! Kloden had a 25m lead and then the chase brought it back to about 10m with about 100m to go and Lance stepped it up with Ullrich on his wheel. Kloden didn't see him coming fast enough and couldn't accelerate to get the win. Watch that finish tonight, you won't be disappointed.

 

[Lennox]

he just won with a crazy sprint... damn hes good



i kinda feel bad for landis... just couldnt hack it to the end ...

 

[Heidi]

Really great win for Lance - it was awesome. I saw him jump and go after Kloden and damn, he won again!!!!!!!

Two rumors they talked about today: Possibility of Levi coming back to Postal, and that Landis had a huge offer from another team. Landis rocked today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[llkoolkeg]

Landis definitely stepped it up today for Lance and the team..and what an awesome display of timing and power on that final sprint from Lance to steal the win. Ya gotta run through first base, Andreas! Ullrich must have wanted to puke when he saw that. At least Kloden didn't have his arms upstretched for the assumed victory.

 

[N8 v2.0]

Gentlemen... I am spent...

*smoking*

 

[Heidi]

HA - in the interview with Lance he said when they reached the top of the summit he asked Landis how fast he could ride DH. Then he told Landis to run like he stole it!

 

[binary visions]

Watch that finish tonight, you won't be disappointed.

I don't get OLN or any channel that broadcasts the Tour. Any chance someone could toss the last bit of the race into a .mpg or .avi and post it ?

 

[golgiaparatus]

At least Kloden didn't have his arms upstretched for the assumed victory.

BAHAHA!!! That would have been a priceless victory shot.

 

[Lennox]

so in the last 100m .. what the hell did they all run over... looked like a foam something... wtf is that about...

and i know it would be hard to control.. but why let people run along side the riders... like that dude in the chicken suit running in front for a good 30ft...

what if he fell.. they would have all toppled on top of him.... what happens then??

 

[Heidi]

so in the last 100m .. what the hell did they all run over... looked like a foam something... wtf is that about...

and i know it would be hard to control.. but why let people run along side the riders... like that dude in the chicken suit running in front for a good 30ft...

what if he fell.. they would have all toppled on top of him.... what happens then??

It was some sort of balloon like thingie. As for letting people run alongside the riders...that's just part of the tour. Several times today I saw riders pushing fans out of the way. Scary, yes.

 

[RideND]

so in the last 100m .. what the hell did they all run over... looked like a foam something... wtf is that about...

It looked to me like one of those thunderstix that the Angels made so popular when they won the World Series.

 

[N8 v2.0]

I was wondering if Lance has his own set of USPS Yellow Jerseys to wear for the race... I mean they all look like they are fitted for him. For example the onw that he wore yesterday looked like it was part of his areo-suit.

 

[Heidi]

I was wondering if Lance has his own set of USPS Yellow Jerseys to wear for the race... I mean they all look like they are fitted for him. For example the onw that he wore yesterday looked like it was part of his areo-suit.

One of his sponsors is the people who make the yellow jersey. Lucky for him.

 

[stosh]

the whole postal team is crazy good....

I wonder what other teams say and think....