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TDF Stage 18

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unemployed bum
Oct 24, 2002
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The finishing climb should be interesting. 10% for 3km. Someone is going to get dropped in the top 10 and lose time.

The peleton is not letting much go today.

128km to go
Matthias Kessler (T-Mobile Team), Luke Roberts (Team CSC), Xabier Zandio (Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne), Axel Merckx (Davitamon-Lotto), Marcos Serrano (Liberty Seguros-Würth), Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas-Bianchi), Cédric Vasseur (Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone), Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom), Egoi Martinez (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Carlos De Cruz (FDJ)
Peloton at 2'00

T-Mobile trying to get the team classification lead back.
 
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unemployed bum
Oct 24, 2002
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14:26 - Peloton In Feedzone
As the peloton reaches the feedzone (at the 91.5km mark) it is 9’10" behind the 10-man escape group. Lance Armstrong is at the back of the bunch having a chat to Joseba Beloki. There doesn’t appear to be much interest in chasing down the 10 fugitives who escapeed at the 45km mark.

Looks to be the same as yesterday. The break up the road and the big boys figthing it out at the end. This also plays into Thor's hands as he doesn't have to worry about O'Grady and McEwen gaining sprint points.
 
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unemployed bum
Oct 24, 2002
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The gap is around 11'30" as they approach the bottom of the first of two Cat2 climbs today.

It will be interesting to see if any of big GC guys try something on that climb and try to stay away till the end. This climb has no downhill after the summit just more flat.
 
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unemployed bum
Oct 24, 2002
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72 km Axel Merckx (Davitamon-Lotto) has never won a stage on the Tour. The son of the Cannibal is nevertheless a pretty accomplished puncher who, year after year, gives it a go and tries his best to get that elusive stage win. Today he has extra motivation, because the 21 July is Belgian's national holiday. So, maybe Axel will be the Belgian David Moncoutié?
 
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unemployed bum
Oct 24, 2002
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15:27 - Leaders Over Summit 58km from the finish
The 10 escapees have finished climbing the Cote de Boyne. The peloton has 5km to climb and is 12’45" behind the 10 escapees.

Discovery is setting a fairly fast pace to discourage attacks on the climb.
 
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unemployed bum
Oct 24, 2002
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Reactor said:
I'd love to see disco attack on the last climb, just to show the non-believers.
Click to expand...
To be completely honest I wouldn't be surprised to see Lance and Disco liven things up. But they'll probably get beat to the punch by Vino. He and Ullrich will be looking to take time out those in front of them.
 
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unemployed bum
Oct 24, 2002
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The Francetélévisions motorbike cameramen have just had their daily chat with Lance Armstrong back in the peloton... It's becoming a bit of a regular occurance, and is a welcome tonic to these long stages when all but the winner seems to be decided. "I'm ok for an old man," Lance joked. Asked who his tip for the win today was, the yellow jersey replied! "I think Axel [Merckx] will win."

The gap is over 14 minutes.
 
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16:31 - Da Cruz’s Lead: 15"
There has been no reaction to Da Cruz’s attack in the lead-up to the penultimate climb. The FDJ rider now leads Kessler, Roberts, Zandio, Merckx, Serrano, Pellizotti, Vasseur, Voeckler and Martinez by 15".
 
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unemployed bum
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16:35 - CSC Lead The Peloton
With 20km to go for the peloton, the CSC team has come to the front. This group was 15’10" behind at the 20km to go sign.

16:36 - 10km To Go For Da Cruz
The leader of the stage has ridden under the 10km to go sign with a lead of 15" on Kessler, Roberts, Zandio, Merckx, Serrano, Pellizotti, Vasseur, Voeckler and Martinez.
 
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unemployed bum
Oct 24, 2002
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Da Cruz has cracked! It's AXEL MERCKX WHO BREAKS FIRST, THEN XAVIER ZANDIO! Da Cruz is passed and distanced, while Merckx powers on to the top. Zandio has slowed, with Voeckler, Serrano and Vasseur driving forward to lead the chase...
 
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unemployed bum
Oct 24, 2002
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16:41 CEST 181km/8km to go
Serrano, Zandio and Vasseur look as though they are going to catch the leading pair on this descent, which is a steady run down on wide roads, not too steep to pedal a big gear mostr of the way.

16:41 CEST
Chris Brewer, from Behind the Blue Curtain, reports from the finish:

"We just drove the final 20kms. The run into the first cat 3 climb is a non-technical descent, and the cat 3 itself is easy with only one switchback. The final cat 2 effort is 3k long, and the first 1k nothing remarkable. But the road really kicks up - no switchbacks, just up up up. The crowds are very thick on the final 2k and will be pressing down onto the peloton, room for single file climbing only. Over the summit and it's a quick 1k drop to the airport finish in Mende."

Could be bad if you aren't in the front......
 
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unemployed bum
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16:51 - 1km To Climb For Serrano
Serrano has a lead of 10" on Merckx and Vasseur with 1km to climb on the Cote la la Croix-Neuve.

In the peleton the guy in second place for the white jersey has attacked.....
 
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unemployed bum
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16:52 CEST
800 metres of climbing and a kilometre of descent for Marcos Serrano, who kicks again. Here we really do have some thick crowds, opening up in front of the riders but putting Serrano briefly out of sight.

16:53 CEST
Serrano looks to have broken the back of the climb as he comes up to the barrier lined section just before the mountains prime; he should be able to do it from here...
 
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unemployed bum
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16:55 - Merckx & Vasseur On Final Straight
Merckx has been beaten by Vasseur for second place 30" behind the stage winner.

16:54 - Liberty Seguros To Win The Stage!
Serrano is now flying down towards the finish of stage 18. He is about to raise his hands to salute the win. It’s the first stage success in the Tour de France for the Liberty Seguros-Wurth team.


The main field is down to 30 or so riders with the other white jersey guy in the lead by 20" or so. He's going to get his lunch eaten in a bit.
 
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unemployed bum
Oct 24, 2002
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16:57 - Popovych Takes Charge
Hincapie and Popovych are now leading the peloton on the final climb of the stage. The main pack has caught and raced passed the attack by Kashechkin.

Which has left 12 or so riders in that group. All the main folks are still there. Guess Landis made it today....
 
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unemployed bum
Oct 24, 2002
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17:03 - 2km To Go
Basso, Armstrong and Evans are now 10" ahead of Ullrich with 2km to go in the stage.

17:02 - Armstrong & Basso Attacking
Basso is now gritting his teeth and trying to get ride of Armstrong. It’s enough to get rid of Ullrich. Evans is still following the wheel fo the yellow jersey.

Silly rabbit don't you know you don't get rid of Lance.... shaking head.
 
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unemployed bum
Oct 24, 2002
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17:04 - Ullrich Comes Back
Ullrich is now coming back to the yellow jersey’s trio. There are now four riders together near the top of the final climb. Armstrong, Ullrich, Evans and Basso are 30" ahead of Rasmussen, Leipheimer and Vinokourov.
 
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