Stage 16 Summary

The 16th stage of the 2005 Tour de France began at 12.19pm. There were 156 riders at the sign on. The two non-starters were Backstedt (LIQ) and Bortolami (LAM). There were blood tests at the start involving 35 riders from the Bouygues Telecom, Francaise des Jeux, Phonak, Cofidis and Saunier Duval. All were cleared to start the stage. _ The stage from Mourenx to Pau featured four climbs including the final ‘hors category’ summit of the 92nd Tour. The mountains were: the cat-3 Col d’Ichere (at 50.5km), the cat-1 Col de Marie-Blanque (at 70.5km), the HC Col d’Aubisque (108.5km) and the cat-4 Cote de Pardies-Pietat (at 161km). _ There were two intermediate sprints, the first in Bidos (at 27km) and the second in Arthez-d’Asson (at 140.5km). _ _ Rapid Start… _ The pace at the start was extremely fast with many riders attempting to establish an escape. Kloden (TMO) crashed after 13km but he quickly rejoined the peloton. Some of the riders involved in the early attacks were Julich (CSC), Flecha (FAS), Canada (SDV), Serrano (LSW), Pellizotti (LIQ), Fedrigo (BTL) and Goubert (A2R). One kilometer before the 1st intermediate sprint, 11 riders established an escape. They were: Zandio (IBA), Evans & Rodriguez (DVL), Flecha (FAS), Horner (SDV), Vasseur (COF), Geslin and Pineau (BTL), Gilbert (FDJ), Ludewig (DOM) and Turpin (A2R). The points in Bidos were won by: Gilbert, Turpin and Flecha. At the 30km mark the 11 led by 40”. Discovery Channel riders came to the front of the peloton. At 33.5km the bunch was at 1’40”; at 39km – 3’10”; at 45km – 5’00”. The average speed for the first hour was 47.5km/h. Serrano (LSW) attacked the peloton at the 46km mark. The points of the 1st climb were won by Pineau, Ludewig, Horner and Rodriguez. Serrano was 3’30” behind at the summit. The peloton was at 5’10”. _ _ Col de Marie-Blanque _ With 6km to go on the second climb, the peloton was 6’00” behind the 11 escapees. Vinokourov (TMO) attacked at the 64km mark. He was chased by Pereiro (PHO), Kashechkin (C.A) and Leipheimer. Kashechkin was hit in the face by a spectator and turned around to consult the race doctor. ‘Vino’ was caught by the yellow jersey’s bunch after a 1km attack. The yellow jersey’s group consisted of Armstrong, Hincapie, Ullrich, Basso, Julich, Mancebo, Rasmussen, Leipheimer, Landis, Pereiro, Heras, Mazzoleni, Armstrong, Hincapie, Ullrich, Basso, Julich, Mancebo, Rasmussen, Leipheimer, Landis, Pereiro, Heras, Mazzoleni. Near the top, Pereiro attacked again and was chased by Mazzoleni. At the top the points were won by: Ludewig, Geslin, Zandio, Gilbert, Evans, Turpin, Vasseur and Horner. Their group of 11 was 1’30” ahead of Serrano, 2’50” ahead of Pereiro, 2’55” ahead of Mazzoleni and 3’12” ahead of the yellow jersey’s group. _ At the exit of the feedzone (84km) the 11 led Serrano by 1’25”, Pereiro and Mazzoleni by 2’25” and the peloton by 4’50”. In the valley between the 2nd and 3rd climbs, the peloton was 6’10” behind the 11 escapees. _ _ Evans Attacks On The Col d’Aubisque _ The first rider to be dropped by the lead group was Rodriguez. With 16.5km to climb to the Col d’Aubisque summit, Mazzoleni and Pereiro caught Serrano. They were 2’40” behind the 10 stage leaders. The peloton was at 7’35” at the base of the 3rd climb. At the 92km mark, Vinokourov attacked the bunch. At 95km, Arroyo and Kashechkin attacked the peloton. They were 7’00” behind the 10 and 15” ahead of the peloton. Heras attacked at the 96.5km mark. He joined Arroyo and Kashechkin at the 97km mark. Serrano waited for Mazzoleni and Pereiro. Evans attacked the lead group with 7km to climb. Armstrong’s group grew between climbs and Vinokourov attacked the yellow jersey’s bunch at the start of the ascent. Heras also attacked the bunch. There were surges from Ullrich, Basso and Sastre and this thinned out the yellow jersey’s group which consisted of: Armstrong, Ullrich, Basso, Vinokourov, Heras, Rasmussen, Leipheimer and Landis. At the top of the Col d’Aubisque, Cadel Evans lead by: 47” to Pereiro; 59” to Mazzoleni & Zandio; 1’15” to Serrano; 1’33” to Ludewig; 2’24” to Gilbert & Flecha; 2’44” to Geslin, Pineau and Turpin; 4’15” to Rasmussen, Horner, Armstrong, Ullrich, Heras and the rest of the peloton. _ _ Pereiro caught and passed Evans with 130km to go. They were later joined by Mazzoleni then Pereiro punctured. After getting a new rear wheel, he was joined by Zandio and they reeled in the two stage leaders. Evans, Mazzoleni, Pereiro and Zandio joined forces at the 130km mark. At the 2nd sprint (140.5km) the points were won by: Pereiro, Evans and Zandio. At the site of the sprint, Serrano and Ludewig were 1’35” behind; Vasseur, Geslin, Pineau, Gilbert, Turpin and Flecha were at 2’30”; the peloton was 6’50” behind. T-Mobile riders led the peloton. At 145km, Vasseur’s group caught Serrano and Ludewig. With 25km to go, Evans’ quartet led Vasseur’s group by 1’50” and the peloton by 5’05”. The peloton was led by riders from T-Mobile, Rabobank and Credit Agricole for the final 25km. _ _ Evans Moves Into Top 10 & Pereiro Wins The Stage! _ In the last 25km Evans did most of the work in the lead group. He wanted to gain as much time as possible to move up in the GC. He was 11th at the start of the day and 7th overall after leading out the sprint for stage honours. The Australian finished fourth in the stage that was won in a fine sprint by Pereiro. It was the Spaniard’s first victory in the Tour de France. _ _ Lance Armstrong finished the stage in 36th place 3’24” behind Pereiro. The Texan will wear the yellow jersey in stage 17.