THE RACE LIVE
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The top 10 in the 200.5km stage to Morzine is:
1. Floyd Landis (USA - PHO)
2. Carlos Sastre (ESP - CSC) at 5’42"
3. Christophe Moreau (FRA - A2R) at 5’58"
4. Damiano Cunego (ITA - LAM) at 6’40"
5. Michael Boogerd (NED - RAB) at 7’08"
6. Frank Schleck (LUX - CSC) - at 7’08"
7. Oscar Pereiro (ESP - CSC) - at 7’08"
8. Andreas Kloden (GER - TMO) - at 7’08"
9. Haimar Zubeldia (ESP - EUS) - at 7’08"
10. Cadel Evans (AUS - DVL) - at 7’20"

Pereiro finished 1’27" behind Sastre which means that yellow jersey will stay on the shoulders of Pereiro for another stage. Sastre began the day in 2nd place, 1’50" behind the overall leader.

Moreau has claimed third, 5’58" behind Landis.
Cunego is fourth - and the new leader of the youth classification after finishing 6’40" behind Landis.

Sastre has finished the 17th stage 5’41" behind Landis. Moreau is in the final kilometer.

Sastre is in the final kilometer of the stage. He is well ahead of third place, Moreau.

Sastre is 5’25" behind at the last check. He is likely to inherit the overall lead of the Tour de France after today’s stage. He is well clear of Moreau and closing in quickly on the finish in Morzine.

A day after he lost 10’04" to the stage winner, Floyd Landis is the hero of the Tour de France. He may not be back in yellow at the end of stage 17 but he is a winner. He has just finished the 200.5km stage in 5h23’36" - an average speed of 37.15km/h!

Landis is about to win the 17th stage of the 2006 Tour de France. He is less than 1,000m from the finish.

Landis is just 2km away from his first stage win in the Tour de France.

Damiano Cunego is currently fourth in the stage. He began the day in second place in the youth classification 2’42" behind Fothen (GST). The Italian is now well ahead of the German who has just reached the summit of the Col du Joux-Plane...

The points at the top of the final ‘Hors Category’ col of the 2006 Tour were won by:
1. Landis (PHO) 40pts
2. Sastre (CSC) 36pts – at 5’05”
3. Moreau (A2R) 32 – at 5’59“
4. Cunego (LAM) 28 – at 6’20“
5. Boogerd (RAB) 24pts
6. Schleck (CSC) 20pts
7. Pereiro (CEI) 16pts
8. Zubeldia (EUS) 14pts
9. Kloden (TMO) 12pts
10. Rasmussen (RAB) 10pts – at 6’50”

Sastre is at the top of the Col du Joux-Plane 5’05" behind Landis.

Floyd Landis is still the only rider over the final summit. He has earned 40 points for the Col du Joux-Plane (a total of 122 points)...

Landis is 10km away from an amazing stage win. Sastre has just reached the 1km to climb sign. Sastre is 1’50" ahead of Moreau.

Landis has reached the top of the final climb of stage 17. He is going to follow in the footsteps of: Greg LeMond, Davis Phinney, Jeff Pierce, Andy Hampsten, Lance Armstrong, Tyler Hamilton, George Hincapie and Dave Zabriskie... the other Americans to win a stage at the Tour.

Landis is going to win the stage unless disaster happens on the descent. His advantage with 15km to go (ie. three kilometers to climb) was:
5’30" to Sastre
6’04" to Cunego
6’55" to Evans and Schleck
7’05" to Pereiro, Rasmussen et al

Sastre is 5’30" behind Landis at the 15km to go mark. Landis is about to crest the summit of the final climb and descent to Morzine to become the 10th American to win a stage of the Tour de France.
Cunego was at 6’04".

Sastre began the day in 2dn place, 1’50" behind Pereiro. The CSC rider is now 1’25" ahead of the yellow jersey.

Sastre is 5’45" behind Landis and 30" ahead of Cunego, 45" ahead of Moreau...
Menchov, Evans and Boogerd at 1’00" behind Sastre.

Landis is 3km from the summit of the Col du Joux Plane. In pursuit of the American are: Sastre, then Cunego, then Moreau...

Landis continues to lead the stage and appears destined to win. Behind him is Sastre, then Cunego, then Moreau, then Sinkewitz...

Cunego is about to catch Moreau who has just passed Sinkewitz.

Sastre is 1’10" ahead of the yellow jersey’s group.

Sastre has caught Sinkewitz with about 17.5km to go. The CSC rider is now in second place and he leads Menchov’s group by 40".

Landis leads Sastre by 5’47", Moreau by 6’04", then comes a group of five: Schleck, Cunego, Menchov, Evans, Boogerd...

Landis appears destined to win the stage but Sastre is looking like the candidate to take the yellow jersey.
If Landis wins he will be the 10th American to claim a stage of the Tour de France.
If Sastre takes the yellow jersey, he will be the 8th rider to lead the 2006 Tour de France... equal to the record number of leaders.

Sastre is 5’25" behind Landis Moreau is at 5’40"; Menchov is at 5’50" and the yellow jersey is at 6’15"...

Sastre is 45" ahead of Pereiro. Moreau has just dropped Evans as he shoots off in pursuit of Sastre.

Cunego has caught Boogerd, Menchov and Schleck.

Sastre leads Moreau and Evans by 12"...
Schleck, Menchov and Boogerd by 17"...
And the yellow jersey’s peloton by 30".

Evans and Moreau are closing in on Sastre who is 12" ahead...
Kloden, Mazzoleni, Rasmussen, Valjavec, Pereiro, Arroyo... are some of the riders in the yellow jersey peloton that is 25" behind Evans and Moreau.

Landis is now 20km from the finish of the stage. His is 5’55" ahead of Sastre and 6’15" ahead of the yellow jersey.

Moreau and Evans have now attacked the peloton. They are in pursuit of Sastre who began the stage in third place overall.
Menchov is being paced by yesterday’s winner Rasmussen but this Rabobank pair is behind Kloden who is not able to follow Moreau’s surge.

Sastre has dropped his team-mate Schleck on the Col du Joux-Plane.

Schleck and Sastre (CSC) have attacked the peloton. They are being pursued by Cunego (LAM)... Hincapie has been dropped from the yellow jersey peloton.

Landis has less than 9km to climb to the top of the final climb. From there he has a 12km descent to the finish in Morzine.

Landis is currently 1’05" ahead of Sinkewitz and 6’40" ahead of the peloton which has just begun the final climb.

Landis now has a lead of 32" over the rider who has followed him for the past 50km, Patrik Sinkewitz.

The peloton is 25km from the finish with a deficit of 6’35" to Landis.

Landis is racing ahead of Sinkewitz and on his way to a historic stage victory. The American is determined to regain the time he lost on the road to La Toussuire...

The points for the second intermediate sprint of the 17th stage were won by:
1. Landis (PHO) 6pts
2. Sinkewitz (TMO) 4pts
3. Vandevelde (CSC) 2pts - at 6’50"

The two stage leaders are on the Col du Joux Plane. Halgand has just been caught by the peloton which is now being driven by O’Grady, Voigt, Vandevelde (of CSC) and Kessler and Honchar (of T-Mobile).

The peloton is at the 176.5km mark with a deficit of 7’10" to Landis and Sinkewitz.

Landis is pedaling a cadence of 84rpm on the flat road under the 25km to go banner. Sinkewitz continues to sit on while the Phonak team captain sets a furious pace about 7’40" ahead of the peloton and 6’35" ahead of Halgand.

Landis led Sinkewitz over the line in Verchaix to claim a six-second time bonus at the 2nd intermediate sprint. He is riding at around 50km/h but has lost some of his advantage over the chasing peloton which is now 7’40" behind.

Landis and Sinkewitz are at the 171.5km mark. They have 1,000m to go before reaching the site of the 2nd intermediate sprint.

The points at the top of the fourth climb, the category-three Cote de Chatillon-sur-Cluses (at 162km) were won by:
1. Landis (PHO) 4pts
2. Sinkewitz (TMO) 3pts
3. Halgand (C.A) 2pts – at 4’50”
4. Voigt (CSC) 1pts – at 8’05”

Vandevelde (CSC), Voigt (CSC) and Honchar (TMO) are driving the peloton which is at the 161km mark. Their speed has the trailing riders strung out in one long line but the bunch - which has just caught O’Grady - is still 8’10" behind Landis and Sinkewitz.

At the top of the fourth climb, Halgand is 4’49" behind Landis and Sinkewitz.

The T-Mobile rider who is helping the CSC team at the front of the peloton is Serhiy Honchar.

Landis has led Sinkewitz to the top of the Cote de Chatillon-sur-Cluses.

The CSC team has received support from a T-Mobile rider at the front of the peloton. The last time check had the bunch 8’35" behind. This was taken at the start of the fourth climb.

After Floyd Landis regained the lead of the Tour de France at the top of L’Alpe d’Huez he decided that he wanted a beer to celebrate the moment. On the road down to his hotel, his team car pulled over and the American traded a yellow jersey for a six-pack of beer with a spectator.

Floyd Landis is still holding onto his virtual lead of the Tour de France. He is 8’55" ahead of the peloton which is now in Cluses (at the 152.5km mark).

Voigt and some of his CSC colleagues continue to set the pace of the chase. They are in charge of the yellow jersey’s peloton which is 9’00" behind Landis and Sinkewitz and is 50km from the finish.

Landis and Sinkewitz are 5km from the top of the next climb. Landis continues to lead - and ride with his chain on the big chainring (while Sinkewitz is in the small chainring).

Landis and Sinkewitz are 45km from the finish of the stage. There are two more climbs: the category-three Cote de Chatillon-sur-Cluses (at 162km) and the final ’Hors Category’ col of the 2006 Tour, the Col du Joux-Plane which is 12km from the finish.
The advantage of the leading pair is 9’00" when the peloton was at the 148km mark.

Landis and Sinkewitz are now 2’15" ahead of the rider in third place, Halgand.

The peloton is now 8’55" behind Landis and Sinkewitz. Garate has just been swallowed up by the pack that’s being led by riders from the CSC team.

With the peloton nine minutes behind Landis and Sinkewitz, the CSC team has decided to start chasing. Voigt is now at the head of the yellow jersey’s group.

The second sprint of stage 17 is in Cluses. This city has twice hosted a stage finish of the Tour de France. The first time was a time trial in the 1994 race when Piotr Ugrumov (LAT) was the winner; the second time was in 2002 when Dario Frigo (ITA) won.

Landis and Sinkewitz are now at the 148km mark. They have 52km to race and the American continues to do all the work.

The points at the top of the third climb (at the 134km mark) were won by:
1. Landis (PHO) 15pts
2. Sinkewitz (TMO) 13pts
3. Halgand (C.A) 11pts - at 1’07"
4. Padrnos (DSC) 9pts
5. O’Grady (CSC) 8pts
6. Righi (LAM) 7pts
7. Garate (QSI) 6pts
8. De la Fuente (SDV) 5pts

The peloton is 8’35" behind Landis and Sinkewitz at the top of the third climb. This means that Landis is the virtual leader of the Tour...!

The peloton is now 8’01" behind Landis and Sinkewitz and it is 1km from the top of the third climb.

LeTour.fr recently spoke to Bernard Hinault who is following the action in an official car again today. We asked the five-time Tour winner for his thoughts on Landis’ aggressive approach to the stage.
”He is just showing that he’s a real soldier,” said Hinault. “I still believe that he was hunger-flat on the final climb of the 16th stage. His attack can work. He has the keys to the race lead now because he’s forcing the others to attack and only then will we know what will happen to the other title hopefuls.
“I’m a big fan of Floyd today because I like the way he races. He’s got an aggressive streak. He’s just saying, ‘I was bad yesterday but I’m the best and I’ll prove that today’. It can work, it’s like a Hinault Coup.”

Landis is almost the virtual leader of the Tour de France. He began the day in 11th place, 8’08" behind Pereiro and he’s now 7’45" ahead of the yellow jersey.

At the 134km mark (ie. the top of the 3rd climb), Halgand was 1’00" behind Landis and Sinkewitz.

Landis and Sinkewitz have reached the summit of the Col de la Colombiere.

At the 1km to climb sign, Halgand was 1’03" behind Landis and Sinkewitz.

The two stage leaders are less than 1,000m away from the top of the Col de la Colombiere. Sinkewitz has not done a turn of pace but he is the only rider able to match the incredible tempo being tapped out by Landis...

Landis and Sinkewitz are 7’10" ahead of the yellow jersey’s peloton 5km from the top of the 3rd climb.

With 3km to climb on the Col de la Colombiere, Landis and Sinkewitz are 6’30" ahead of the yellow jersey’s peloton which is still being led by three riders from the Caisse d’Epargne team.

Halgand is 25" behind Landis and Sinkewitz.

Landis and Sinkewitz have bolted ahead of Halgand. The next riders are O’Grady and Padrnos. The leading pair are 5km from the top of the 3rd climb.

At the 125km mark, the yellow jersey’s peloton has a deficit of 5’45" to Landis/Sinkewitz/Halgand.

The yellow jersey’s peloton is 5’35" behind the Landis trio.

It took only a few seconds for Landis to pedal back up to Halgand and Sinkewitz after his recent bike change.

Gilbert and Auge - who were part of the initial escape group of 11 riders - have just been caught by the peloton.

Landis has stopped his effort in the lead group to wait for his team car. He has received a new bike and is now in pursuit of Halgand and Sinkewitz...

Landis, Sinkewitz and Halgand are 75km from the end of the 200.5km stage. They are currently on the Col de la Colombiere, a 11.8km long ascent that has an average gradient of 5.8 per cent. Its summit is at the 134km mark.

Landis began the stage in 11th place on general classification. He collapsed in stage 16 and lost 10’04" to the winner yesterday; slipping to 8’08" behind the overall leader.
Today he began his move at the base of the first climb and he’s been riding as though he plans on stealing back the lead of the Tour de France.

There are now three riders in the lead of the stage. Righi has been unable to match the tempo being tapped out by Landis...

Landis is now riding with three others in the lead of the stage. The foursome - Floyd, Patrice, Patrik and Daniele - have a lead of 5’25" over the yellow jersey’s peloton...

Early on the Col de la Colombiere, Landis has accelerated and dropped O’Grady and Padrnos. Only Sinkewitz and Righi are with the determined Phonak team leader.

The points for the intermediate sprint at the 122km mark were won by:
1. Halgand (C.A) 6pts
2. Landis (PHO) 4pts
3. Sinkewitz (TMO) 2pts

Halgand is 12km from the top of the Col de la Colombiere.

When Landis was still a domestique for the US Postal team in 2004, he was presented with an opportunity to win the stage to Le Grand Bornand. This is the site of the first intermediate sprint of stage 17. "Ride like you stole something," Lance Armstrong told his former team-mate at the top of the preceding climb.
Armstrong eventually won the stage, beating Kloden in a sprint to the line at the end of the 204km stage from Bourg d’Oisans. Landis was 5th, 13" behind his team-mate at the time.

The riders with Floyd Landis are: Patrik Sinkewitz (TMO), Pavel Padrnos (DSC), Stuart O’Grady (CSC) and Daniele Righi (LAM).

Landis’ group is 45" behind Halgand at the 117km mark. There are five kilometers to ride before the site of the first intermediate sprint.

The average speed for the 3rd hour of racing in stage 17 is 32.8km/h. The average for the first three hours is 37.0km/h.

At the top of the 2nd climb, the yellow jersey’s peloton is 5’45" behind Halgand and 4’30" behind Landis’ group.
Landis started the stage in 11th place, 8’08" behind Pereiro.

Halgand has a lead of 4’00" over Gilbert (FDJ) at the top of the 2nd climb.

Paolini has been caught by the yellow jersey’s peloton before they reach the top of the top of the Col des Aravis.

The points at the top of the second climb in stage 17 were won by:
1. Halgand (C.A) 10pts
2. Landis (PHO) 9pts - at 1’14"
3. Sinkewitz (TMO) 8ts
4. Righi (LAM) 7pts
5. O’Grady (CSC) 6pts
6. Padrnos (DSC) 5pts - at 1’35"

Padrnos was 1’35" behind at Halgand the top of 2nd climb.

Landis, Sinkewitz, Righi and O’Grady were 1’14" behind Halgand at the top of the 2nd climb.

Halgand has arrived at the top of the Col des Aravis to claim the 10 points for first place.

This is the 38th time that riders in the Tour de France have climbed the Col des Aravis. The previous winners of this 1,486m high category-two col are:
1911: Duboc et E.Georget
1912: Christophe
1913: M. Buysse
1914: Thys
1919: H.Barthélémy
1920: Lambot
1921: Scieur
1922: E. Masson
1923: H. Pelissier
1924: Brunero
1925: Bottecchia
1926: Huysse
1927: Martinet
1928: Moineau
1929: Frantz
1930: Mazeyrat
1931: A.Magne
1932: Demuysère
1933: Schepers
1934: F.Vervaecke
1935: Vietto
1936: Ezquerra
1937: Bartali
1948: Bartali
1955: Gaul
1960: Manzaneque
1968: Hoban
1975: Van Impe
1980: Loos
1982: Lejaretta
1983: Michaud
1984: R. Millar
1987: Chozas
1990: Claveyrolat
1991: Claveyrolat
2000: Pantani
2002: M.Aerts

Garate has just been dropped by the Landis group which now has six riders in it.

The riders with Floyd Landis are: Garate (QSI), Padrnos (DSC), O’Grady (CSC), Sinkewitz (TMO) and Righi (LAM). They are 1’40" behind Halgand.

The yellow jersey’s peloton is 5km from the top of the second climb. It is 5’10" behind Halgand. The Landis group is now 1’45" behind the stage leader.

Padrnos is now with the Landis group of six riders...

Landis is now riding along with Righi, O’Grady, Sinkewitz and Garate. This is group is 1’44" behind Halgand; the peloton is 5’15" behind the stage leader.

The latest time check had Halgand 1’20" ahead of Landis.

Gilbert and Tankink cannot match the pace of Landis. The chase of Halgand is now led by Sinkewitz, O’Grady, Righi, Garate and Landis.

Landis took a sip of water as he rolled past the 10 others from the escape group. He then went straight to the front, had a quick word with Sinkewitz and set off in pursuit of Halgand.
Landis caught the 10 leaders at the 102.5km mark.

Landis is about to catch Padrnos, O’Grady, Sinkewitz, Tankink, Le Mevel, Gilbert, Garate, Righi, Auge and Paolini.

The yellow jersey’s group is about 2’40" behind Landis. Pereiro and co are 3’25" behind Halgand.

We don’t have a check for the rest of the original escape group to the stage leader, Halgand, but can report that Landis is now just 55" behind...

At the start of the feedzone (97.5km) Landis was 1’05" behind the stage leaders. The peloton was at 4’50"...

Halgand has attacked the lead group on the descent that was 1’45" ahead of Landis at the last check.

The yellow jersey’s peloton is 5’35" behind the 11 stage leaders. In the middle is Landis is who a lead of three minutes over Pereiro.

The 11 riders who were part of the original move are back together on the descent. They are: Padrnos, O’Grady, Sinkewitz, Tankink, Halgand, Le Mevel, Gilbert, Garate, Righi, Auge and Paolini.

One of the riders in the lead group has had to stop to get a new bike. It was Le Mevel of the Credit Agricole team.

Landis still have to catch the riders who escaped at the 12km mark. The stage leaders are 3’00" ahead of Landis on the descent...

At the top of the first climb, the yellow jersey’s peloton is 3’25" behind Landis.

The peloton that includes the yellow jersey rode past the 1km to climb sign as Landis crested the summit.

Landis is 3’10" behind the stage leaders at the top of the Col des Saissies.

The riders to earn points at the top of the first ascent of stage 17 are:
1. Halgand (C.A) 15pts
2. Gilbert (FDJ) 13pts
3. Garate (SDV) 11pts
4. Padrnos (DSC) 9pts
5. O’Grady (CSC) 8pts
6. Sinkewitz (TMO) 7pts
7. Righi (LAM) 6pts
8. Le Mevel (C.A) 5pts

Near the top of the 1st climb, Halgand (C.A) has put in a solid attack. He has been pursued by Gilbert (FDJ).

Landis is now 3’20" behind the seven stage leaders who are about to reach the top of the Col des Saissies.

Jose Angel Gomez Marchante of the Saunier Duval-Prodir team is the latest rider to quit the Tour de France.

There is a 25km downhill section after the first summit. The leaders are now 1km from the top of the Col des Saissies they are currently 6’05" ahead of the yellow jersey’s group.

There are 45 riders in the yellow jersey’s peloton which is being led by four riders from the Caisse d’Epargne riders, including Pereiro. This gorup is 2’40" behind Landis.

The rider who are in the lead of the stage are: Padrnos, O’Grady, Righi, Garate, Gilbert, Halgand and Sinkewitz.

With 3km to climb, Floyd was 3’45" behind the 11 escapees. The yellow jersey’s peloton was 6’05" behind.

Landis is now 3’55" behind the 11-man escape group.

The stage leaders covered 27.9km in the second hour of racing in stage 17. The average speed for the first two hours is 39.1km/h.

The yellow jersey’s peloton has about 25 riders in it. They have just disposed of Christophe Moreau.

Landis now has an advantage of 1’40" over the yellow jersey’s peloton. He is riding with his chain in the big chainring and is determined to make up for his big loss on the stage to La Toussuire.

At the 75.5km mark Landis was 4’50" behind the stage leaders.

The lead group was 5’40" ahead of Landis at the last check. Halgand has just attacked at the front of the stage; his group is 5km from the top of the Col des Saissies.

The winner of the stage to Pau, Juan Miguel Mercado has just abandoned the Tour.

There has been a general regrouping behind Landis who is 5’15" behind the 11-man escape group. The Phonak team caption leads the yellow jersey’s group by 1’10".

The last thing that Miguel Martin Perdiguero (PHO) did in the 2006 Tour was set the tempo in the lead-up to the spectacular attack by Landis that we are currently witnessing.
Perdiguero has just stepped off and has abandoned the Tour.

Landis is 6’00" behind the 11 stage leaders and 45" ahead of the yellow jersey’s group.

Rogers, Evans and Menchov are in 13th, 14th and 15th place in the stage. There are 11 men still in the lead and they are being chased by Landis who has split the race to pieces on the first ascent of the 17th stage.

Landis has a lead on the other overall favourites of about 200 meters. Rogers is now attempting to bridge the gap to the Phonak team leader.

Landis is now on his own and is off in pursuit of the 11 leaders. He is clearly angry after yesterday’s stage and determined to make amends for his 10’04" loss to Rasmussen.

Sastre, Kloden, Rogers, Evans and Landis are the only rider left of the first chase group. They are 15" ahead of Pereiro.

Landis, Kloden, Rogers, Evans, Sastre and Menchov are the only riders left at the front of the peloton after Landis’ surge of pace...!

Landis has oblitorated the peloton. He has just dropped the yellow jersey on the Col des Saissies. There are only about six riders with the former race leader.

The leader of the Phonak team is now in charge of the peloton. Floyd Landis is ahead of riders from the Caisse d’Epargne and T-Mobile teams.

The latest victims of the rapid tempo at the head of the peloton are Axel Merckx (PHO) and Eddy Mazzoleni (TMO).

There are now just three Phonak riders at the head of the peloton. The other recruits from the Swiss-registered team have swung off the front in the last few minutes. The men who are oblitorating the peloton with their fast pace are Victor Hugo Pena, Koos Moerenhout and the former race leader Floyd Landis.

The pace of the chase is furious right now thanks to the efforts of six Phonak riders. They have taken another half a minute out of the leading 11 who now have an advantage of 9’30".

Casar, Voeckler, Casper, Moncoutie and Simoni are some of the riders who have recently been dropped by the peloton which is now 10’00" behind the escape group.

The maximum gain of the 11 escapees was 11’10" (when the peloton was at the 59km mark). The chase by the Phonak squad is starting to reel in the fugitives who are now 10’45" ahead.

This is the seventh time that the Col des Saissies has been part of the Tour’s itinerary. The previous winners of the points atop the 1,650m high mountain are:
1979: Lubberding
1984: Delgado
1987: Hernandez
1992: Chiappucci
1994: Peter De Clercq
1995: Munoz

The peloton has decided that it’s time to race. The pace of the chase has picked up significantly in the last few minutes. The work is being done by seven Phonak riders on the early slopes of the Col des Saissies.
This is a 14.9km long ascent with an average gradient of 6.4 per cent.

The peloton is now on the early slopes of the first climb of the day, the Col des Saissies. Six riders from the Phonak team have move to the front of the pack.

At the 59km mark, the peloton is 11’10" behind Padrnos, O’Grady, Sinkewitz, Righi, Garate, Tankink, Halgand, Le Mevel, Auge, Gilbert and Paolini.

Paul Sherwen, a commentator for English television coverage of the Tour de France, has just told LeTour.fr that he has bad memories of the site of today’s finish. Twice he had to abandon the Tour during his riding career and both times this decision had to be made in Morzine. That was in the 1980 and 1981 Tours.
"Then, a few years later, I made it to the finish," said Sherwen, "but I was really sick and so I couldn’t really celebrate..."

Phonak is the only team in the 2006 race with a full contingent of nine riders. Both AG2R and T-Mobile have all the men who started the race still present but they began the 93rd Tour with eight and seven riders respectively.

The peloton is 10’45" behind Padrnos, O’Grady, Sinkewitz, Righi, Garate, Tankink, Halgand, Le Mevel, Auge, Gilbert and Paolini at the 49.5km mark.

The best-placed of the 11 escapees (who are 10’40" ahead of the peloton at 49km) in the general classification after 16 stages is Patrik Sinkewitz. The 25-year-old German joined T-Mobile at the start of the 2006 season. He has won six races in his five-year pro career, but it’s been a long time since he last claimed a victory.
He won the overall title of the Deutschland Tour in 2004 and the Japan Cup at the end of that season (while riding with the Quickstep team).
He began the day in 36th place overall, 49’57" behind Oscar Pereiro.

The 11 stage leaders rode 50.3km in the first hour of racing today.

Of the 11 riders who are over eight minutes ahead of the peloton, two have previously won a stage of the Tour de France.
O’Grady (CSC) won in Grenoble in 1998 and Chartres in 2004.
Halgand (C.A) won in Pau in 2002.

The peloton is at the 41km mark in the town of Saint-Helene-sur-Isere. It is 8’20" behind Padrnos, O’Grady, Sinkewitz, Righi, Garate, Tankink, Halgand, Le Mevel, Auge, Gilbert and Paolini.

The peloton is now being led by the Caisse d’Epargne team. It is at the 40km mark and has a deficit of 7’40" to the 11 stage leaders.

The city which hosted the winter Olympics in 1992 was Albertville. This is at the 49.5km mark of today’s stage. The city has once been the site of a stage finish of the Tour de France; that was back in 1998 when Jan Ullrich outsprinted Marco Pantani to win the 16th stage a day after the German lost the yellow jersey to the Italian climber.
On that day, Bobby Julich led the peloton across the line in Albertville 1’49" behind the winners of the 1997 and 1998 Tours.

With the peloton at the 37km mark, it is six minutes behind the 11-man escape group.

Padrnos (DSC), O’Grady (CSC), Sinkewitz (CSC), Righi (LAM), Garate and Tankink (QSI), Halgand and Le Mevel (C.A), Auge (COF), Gilbert (FDJ), Paolini (LIQ) are the riders who currently lead the peloton by about five minutes. They have just reached the 41km mark...

The CSC team is now at the front of the peloton which is has covered 34.5km today. Their group is 4’50" behind the 11 escapees.

LeTour.fr contacted one of the directors of the CSC team this morning to get his thoughts on the stage. Alain Gallopin believes that Carlos Sastre has the potential to rise from second overall to first if he handles the final climb well in stage 17.
“Yesterday we sacrificed the team ranking because we asked both Schleck and Vandevelde to put in a big effort because we realised that there was something worth working for in the general classification,” said Gallopin.
“Now our goal is to get the yellow jersey. We were on the attack with Carlos Sastre in stage 16 and today I believe that it’s in T-Mobile’s interests to be aggressive. They have the most solid team in the race and Kloden,a strong time trial rider, needs to get ahead of Pereiro today if he wants to win the Tour.
“For the moment, the most obvious podium in Paris is Pereiro, Kloden and Sastre.
“Anything is possible on the Col de Joux-Plane. It’s a really tough climb… we saw that in 2000 when Armstrong lost time on his main rivals. If Sastre is good on the final ascent, the world is his oyster.”

The 11 escapees have an advantage of 2’10" as the peloton pass the 29km mark.

The 11 escapees are now 1’30" ahead of the peloton.

The 11 riders who are now 1’15" ahead of the peloton are:
Pavel Padrnos (DSC)
Stuart O’Grady (CSC)
Patrik Sinkewitz (CSC)
Daniele Righi (LAM)
Juna Manuel Garate and Bram Tankink (QSI)
Patrice Halgand and Christophe Le Mevel (C.A)
Stephane Auge (COF)
Philippe Gilbert (FDJ)
Luca Paolini (LIQ)

There are now 11 riders 45" ahead of the peloton. Two of the group have recently ceased their effort in the lead of the 17th stage and are now back in the peloton. The men who were recently caught were Pieter Weening (RAB) and David De la Fuente (SDV).

Of the 13 riders who escaped the peloton at the 12km mark, the best-placed in general classification after 16 stage is Patrik Sinkewitz (TMO). He was in 36th place at the start of today’s stage, 49’57" behind Oscar Pereiro (CEI).

The president of the UCI Pat McQuaid is following the Tour de France today. The Irishman is in the car with the outgoing race director Jean-Marie Leblanc.

The 13 escapees are now 45" ahead of the peloton. The move began at the 12km mark.

Posthuma is waiting for the peloton. He was part of the 14-man escape group; the rest of this posse are now 40" ahead.

Padrnos (DSC), O’Grady (CSC), Sinkewitz (CSC), Posthuma and Weening (RAB), Righi (LAM), Garate and Tankink (QSI), Halgand and Le Mevel (C.A), Auge (COF), De la Fuente (SDV), Gilbert (FDJ), Paolini (LIQ) have escaped the peloton. They have a lead of 30".

The peloton has caught Caucchioli (C.A), Paolini (LIQ), Geslin (BTL), Simoni (SDV), Tiralongo (LAM) and Garate (QSI). The breakaway was over at the 9km mark.

Caucchioli (C.A), Paolini (LIQ), Geslin (BTL), Simoni (SDV), Tiralongo (LAM) and Garate (QSI) are only 150m ahead of the peloton after 6.5km of racing. They reached a maximum gain with their four-kilometer escape of 12"...

The CSC team has come to the front of the bunch and is about to catch the six-man escape group...

Da Cruz has been caught by the peloton that’s being led by riders from the Rabobank team. So far 5.5km have been raced and the six-man escape is still 10" ahead of the peloton.

There is a rider from the FDJ team, Da Cruz, 10" behind the six escapees. The peloton is at 13".

Caucchioli (C.A), Paolini (LIQ), Geslin (BTL), Simoni (SDV), Tiralongo (LAM) and Garate (QSI) have attacked the peloton at the 2.5km mark. They are 10" ahead of the peloton that’s being led by riders from the Caisse d’Epargne team.

No one has tried to escape the peloton early in this tough stage in the Savoie and Haute-Savoie departments. The bunch is at the 2km mark...

Racing has begun in 200.5km 17th stage from Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Morzine. The official start time was 11.46am.

One rider did not sign on for the start of the 17th stage. Jose Rujano (QSI) abandoned his first Tour de France while in 105th place overall. There are 146 riders still in the race.

The weather bureau has reported that the conditions will be hot again today. The temperatures at the start are 30 degrees Celsius in the air and 40 degrees at road level.

There is a 6.6km neutral zone before the riders reach the site of the official start; this is where the peloton currently is. The start is expected to be at around 11.45am.

There are two intermediate sprints in the 17th stage. The first is in Le Grand Bornand (at 122.0km), the place where the 17th stage of the 2004 Tour de France concluded and Lance Armstrong outsprinted Andreas Kloden to win for the fourth time, on his way to a sixth overall title.
The second sprint today is in Vachaix (172.5km).

Yesterday’s stage winner, Mickael Rasmussen of the Rabobank team is back in the polka-dot jersey that he won last year. The Dane collected first place points at the top of each climb in stage 16 and now has a tally of 153 points in the mountains classification. The former leader, David De la Fuente (SDV), is second with 108 points. In third place is the winner of the stage to L’Alpe d’Huez Frank Schleck (CSC) with 74 points.
The five climbs today include the final ’Hors Category’ summit of the 2006 Tour. The major challenges in stage 17 are: the 1,650m high Col des Saisseies (category-one, 14.9km – 6.4% at 82.5km), the 1,489m Col des Aravis (cat-2, 5.9km – 7.1% at 109.0km), the 1,613m Col de la Colombiere (cat-1, 11.8km – 5.8% at 134.0km), the 735m Cote de Chatillon-sur-Cluses (cat-3, 5.1km – 4.9% at 162.0km) and the 1,691m (‘Hors Category’, 11.7km – 8.5% at 188.5km).

The 17th stage of the 2006 Tour de France - from Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Morzine (200.5km) - is due to start at 11.30am. The sun is shining in the town at the base of the final climb of yesterday’s stage that hosts the ’depart’ today. The temperature is already over 30 degrees Celsius in Morzine, the site of today’s finish.
Live coverage will begin shortly.