Schleck & Landis The Big Winners At The Famous Summit

Stage Details _ Three climbs: Col d’Izoard (‘Hors Category’ – 2,360m high, 14.5km long, average gradient 7.0% at 86.0km), Col du Lauteret (category-two – 2,058m, 12.1km, 4.4% at 134.0km) and L’Alpe d’Huez (‘Hors Category’ – 1,850m, 13.8km, 7.9% at 187km). _ Intermediate sprints: Embrun (at 35.0km) and Le Monetier-les-Bains (121.0km). _ Weather conditions: blue skies, slight breeze and temperatures at the start in Gap of 24 degrees Celsius in the air and 35 degrees at road level. _ Number of starters: 156. Official start time: 11.51am. _ _ _ The Progress Report _ _ 25-Man Escape Group Forms… _ De la Fuente (SDV) was part of the first escape. The leader of the climbing classification attacked the 2.5km mark and was joined by six others. They were caught at 5km. Joly, Vaugrenard and Chavanel attacked at 12km but were caught at 15.5km. Hincapie, Martinez, Schleck, Voigt, Zabriskie, Mazzoleni, Arrieta, Wegmann, Flecha, Merckx, Cunego, Vila, Arroyo, Garcia-Acosta, Charteau, Landaluze, Chavanel, De la Fuente, Lobato, Eisel, Vaugrenard, Albasini, Garzelli, Pineau and Knees escaped at the 28km mark. At 33km, they were 55” ahead of the peloton. The best-placed on GC after 14 stage was Merckx (PHO). At 44km, the lead had grown to 3’00”. The average speed for the first hour was 50.8km/h. At the 68km mark, the peloton was at 4’25”. _ _ Col d’Izoard & Col du Lautaret _ At the base of the Col d’Izoard, Rujano attacked the peloton. Garzelli attacked the lead group 8km from the summit. He led the polka-dot jersey group by 30” with 5km to climb and the yellow jersey group by 5’00”. The average speed for the 2nd hour was 30.2km/h. The points at the top of were won by: Garzelli, De la Fuente – at 1’10”, Cunego, Vila, Martinez, Schleck, Charteau, Arrieta, Voigt and Arroyo… and remnants from the early escape. The peloton was 6’30”; in between was Rujano and a counter-attacking quartet: Marchante, Bruseghin, Lopez Garcia and Calzati. After the descent, Garzelli led Hincapie, Schleck, Voigt, Zabriskie, Mazzoleni, Arrieta, Merckx, Cunego, Vila, Arroyo, Charteau, Landaluze, Chavanel, De la Fuente and Lobato by 30”. Martinez crashed on the descent. _ At the 2nd sprint, the 18 stage leaders were 3’30” ahead of Rujano, Calzati, Marchante, Bruseghin, Vaugrenard, Albasini, Mercado and Pineau. The average for the 3rd hour was 39.3km/h. Boonen (QSI) abandoned on the Col du Lauraret. Vila and De la Fuente attacked with 10km to climb. With 5km to climb, they were 10” ahead of Hincapie’s group of 13 riders and the peloton was at 4’10”. De la Fuente led over the summit. De la Fuente and Villa were caught early on the descent. _ _ Schleck Wins Race For Stage Honours…! _ The peloton was 3’20” behind the 15 stage leaders with 20km to go. At the start of the final climb Vila surged and this caused all but 8 to drop from the lead group. Cunego launched an even more decisive attack with 12km to climb which only Schleck could follow. These two would ride together until Schleck attacked with 2km to go. He won the stage by 11” and moved from 20th overall to 12th. _ Several riders would drop from the lead group to wait for their team leaders in the final kilometres: Merckx for Landis and Mazzoleni for Kloden… _ _ Landis Leads After 15 Stages… _ Behind the riders vying for stage honours was the race for the yellow jersey. Pereiro arrived at the final along with most of the favourites, 3’20” behind the stage leaders. Landis attacked a number of times and Kloden was always able to follow. This group dropped Evans, Menchov, Leipheimer and Sastre early. A little before the finish Landis and Kloden caught Garzelli and Chavanel who joined them in ensuring that as much time as possible was put into Pereiro who dropped out of the lead group in the first five kilometres of the climb. _ Landis finished fourth, 1’10” behind Schleck. Pereiro finished 14th at 2’49”. Landis will wear the yellow jersey in stage 16.