I would have to go back to 1989, when I watched the taped broadcast of Greg Lemond's final-day victory over Laurent Fignon, to recall a more exciting stage of the Tour de France.
It seemed that even Floyd Landis had accepted defeat after his disasterous Stage 16 collapse. What happened Thursday wasn't a miracle, it was pure guts. Here's a sample of what's been said and written in the past 24 hours about Landis: …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/07/21/talk-the-talk-about-floyd-landis/
American Floyd Landis rode his bicycle back to the leaders of the Tour de France on Thursday with an amazing effort to win the stage and claw back up to 3rd place, just 30 seconds behind the leader Oscar Pereiro.
The American cyclist's gutsy attack over four mountains on Thursday was as remarkable as Wednesday's ride was abysmal. That's when 1st place Landis cracked on the final climb, dropping back to 11th place and 8 minutes behind the leader. …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/07/20/floyd-landis-wins-stage-hes-the-man-to-beat-at-tour-de-france/
(Update: On Thursday, Floyd Landis attacks on the first climb of the day and wins the stage. What did Mark Twain once say? “The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.”)
From 1st place to 11th place in 15 kilometers or less. That's the tale of the tape for Floyd Landis at the 2006 Tour de France.
Everyone knows Landis cracked on the final climb of Stage 16, struggling uphill as every rival passed him by. What happened? …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/07/20/what-happened-to-floyd-landis/
Oscar Pereiro is back in the yellow jersey in the Tour de France, but this time it was no gift from Floyd Landis and the Phonak team. The Spanish cyclist earned it.
Now American cyclist Landis, who started the day in the yellow jersey with a fairly clear path to Paris, sits in 11th place, more than 8 minutes behind the leader. His dreams of winning the Tour de France are shattered — scattered about the roadside like those of fellow US contenders George Hincapie and Levi Leipheimer. …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/07/19/landis-destroyed-on-final-climb-pereiro-back-in-lead-at-tour-de-france/
Facing the fourth and last climb in the grueling 113-mile Stage 16 from Bourg d'Oisans to La Toussuire, Tour de France leader Floyd Landis has one teammate in the group with him.
As Michael Rasmussen scampering up the mountains 7 minutes ahead, and Levi Leipheimer launching a chase, American yellow jersey holder Landis is surrounded by his rivals. …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/07/19/how-isolated-is-floyd-landis-at-the-tour-de-france/
American cyclist Floyd Landis' gambit to let another rider's team lead the Tour de France peloton worked — at least for Tuesday — as he climbed back into the lead on the slopes of fabled l'Alpe d'Huez.
Now it's his beleaguered Phonak team's turn to control the race as it struggles through two more days in the Alps before the final time trial on Saturday and Sunday's finish in Paris. …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/07/18/floyd-landis-lands-in-yellow-again-at-tour-de-france/
Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong visited his former teammates in Gap before the start of Tuesday's first day in the Alps.
There's nothing like a visit from the champ to inspire the troops. Long-time Discovery teammate George Hincapie went right out Tuesday morning and joined a breakaway 23 miles into the race …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/07/18/lance-armstrong-visiting-discovery-teammates-at-the-tour/
Did American cyclist Floyd Landis make a mistake by letting Oscar Pereiro take the yellow jersey?
Five-time Tour de France winner Bernard Hinault seems to think so, while others say giving the Phonak team a rest was a smart move. I guess we'll find out Tuesday when the peloton begins three days in the Alps on the way to its grand finish in Paris on Sunday. …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/07/17/can-floyd-landis-recover-the-tour-de-france-lead/
Stage winner Pierrick Fedrigo and Salvatore Commesso raced into Gap as the survivors of a war of attrition against the breakaway, which at one time numbered six Tour de France cyclists.
Oscar Pereiro held onto the yellow jersey, with his Caisse d'Epargne team laboring in the heat over the climbs while American Floyd Landis' Phonak team had an easier time in the peloton. …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/07/16/fedrigo-wins-stage-pereiro-holds-tour-de-france-yellow-jersey/
Oscar Pereiro, left, and Jens Voigt made the most of a 129-mile breakaway Saturday; Pereiro winning the yellow jersey and Voigt winning the Tour de France's longest stage.
Maybe not so much that Pereiro won the yellow; it was pretty much handed to him by Floyd Landis and his Phonak team after they tired of driving the peloton Saturday and probably didn't relish the thought of keeping up that effort on Sunday. …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/07/15/landis-gives-up-the-tour-de-france-lead-to-pereiro-for-now/
Adventure Cycling Association Trail biking Rails to Trails Conservancy League of American Bicyclists
Recent Comments