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Stage 11 - Grenoble to Chamrousse, 32 km ITT
07.18.01
Check today's standings.
Complete Live Report
Start time: 12:00 CEST (first rider)
Estimated finish time: 17:17 CEST (last rider)
11:30 CEST
After yesterday's dominant performance it looks as though it should be an opportunity for Lance Armstrong to demonstrate his dominance and carve another big chunk out of the remaining margin held by yellow jersey François Simon and Andrei Kivilev, the beneficiaries of the monster breakaway in stage 8; if the other GC contenders are looking for anything other than second place on the podium in Paris, they will need to make a strong showing today.
The 32 km course comprises a 13.5 kilometre "flat" section (mainly false flat, climbing about 200 m fron the start) to the first timing point and then a fairly steady climb of 1300 metres in the remaining 18.5 km (an average gradient of a smidgeon over 7%). The climb, another road up to a ski station like Alpe d'Huez, is a new one for the Tour.
The order of start will of course be the reverse of general classification, so the first man off will be Mapei's Bart Leysen who is unlikely to make much of a dent into the 2 hours, 31 minutes and 14 seconds that separate him from the yellow jersey.
12:42 CEST
With the early starters going at minute intervals and the second half of the field at two minute gaps, the maillot jaune will be starting at six minutes past four local time, chasing Kivilev and O'Grady, with Lance Armstrong going at four o'clock on the dot. Weather conditions are a little cooler than yesterday - quite a lot cooler further up the climb - and there is the possibility of some rain at some stage.
12:56 CEST
Brad McGee (Française des Jeux) seems to be the first rider to be having a serious go for a good time, taking over a minute out of the nearest competition at the checkpoint before the climb. At the second checkpoint, a bit short of half way up the climb, it is Max Van Heeswijk (Domo) who has set the best time for the moment.
13:12 CEST
Although the climb to Chamrousse is a first for the Tour, this is hardly the case for Grenoble, which has hosted the race no fewer than 37 times over the years, as the nearest major center to many of the legendary climbs. It is also the venue for France's last remaining six-day race on the indoor track which was in its time one of the world's fastest. The stage start is alongside the Palais des Sports which houses the track.
13:22 CEST
It seems that the position of the lanterne rouge is no longer, as it once was, worth fighting for - it used to bring in a sizeable extra income in start money at the post-Tour criteriums, but no more. Last-placed Bart Leysen has, however, declared that he is determined to move up at least one place - no small challenge, since 165th-placed Jimmy Casper was 19 minutes ahead of him, and looks to have pulled away another nine minutes today!
Fastest for the moment of the few who have finished is Mapei's Max van Heeswijk.
13:40 CEST
Brad McGee has now finished and has taken the early lead by more than three minutes ahead of Christoph Oriol. However, Alberto Lopez de Munain (Euskaltel) is closing at the second checkpoint, clearly climbing quicker.
13:58 CEST
New best time at the finish for Kelme's Felix Cardenas, half a minute ahead of McGee.
14:24 CEST
For the moment most of the riders in the middle of the standings, well out of contention for GC, are riding well within themselves. Good times by Banesto's young Denis Menchov however, while Cofidis riders David Moncoutié and Iñigo Cuesta are also going well; Cuesta has set a new best time at the second checkpoint.
14:47 CEST
Cuesta has fallen back behind the time of Cardenas with 4 km to go. It is notable that the top five at the first checkpoint has remained almost constant since the early part of the field - all the improvements to the times are coming on the climb itself, not the run-in: starting fast does not seem to be the way to success.
14:51 CEST
Ex-yellow jersey Jens Voigt has gone for the fast start however, but still 27 seconds slower than McGee. Up above, Cuesta has pulled back his deficit on Cardenas to set a new best time 27 seconds faster.
15:15 CEST
Jonathan Vaughters is another fast starter, and he has held his pace on the climb to move a couple of seconds ahead of Cuesta at the first checkpoint. We are now moving towards the real business of the day, with the last 30 riders getting ready to start.
15:30 CEST
Many of the riders now on the road are the domestiques for the top riders; many - like Carlos Sastre (ONCE) - have the pedigree for this sort of event, but it remains to be seen whether they will be let off the leash or told to save themselves for later. Even with the rest day tomorrow, they will be earning their money in the next few days. Mountains leader Laurent Roux is riding steadily, but looks unlikely to be picking up many points today. Vaughters has fallen back to the third best time with 4 km to go.
15:41 CEST
Jonathan Vaughters finishes with the third best time to date, but meanwhile Roberto Laiseka set a new best time ahead of his at the 21.5 km mark.
15:57 CEST
Brisk starts for Aexandr Vinokourov and Sven Montgomery, each just a few seconds behind McGee at the first checkpoint. Very steady performances from Ullrich's other lieutenants, Heppner and Livingston. Ullrich himself is now on the starting ramp, resplendent in the German national champion's jersey (oddly, the national road race champions wear their champions' jerseys in time trial stages, but the world TT champion would wear the rainbow stripes if he were here - Vainsteins gets to spend the day in normal Domo kit). It looks as though Ullrich is not planning a bike change before the climb, as Armstrong is rumoured to be considering.
16:02 CEST
Armstrong is on the ramp. It's 32 km to Chamrousse, he's got an aero helmet but no full-out TT bike, it's dark, and he's wearing sunglasses.
Well, pretty murky, anyway.
16:05 CEST
After a relatively relaxed Stuart O'Grady it is a much nervier looking Andrei Kivilev who launches himself into the void. He will be getting timechecks on Armstrong, but will they help him or discourage him?
As Simon is on the ramp, Roberto Laiseka (Euskaltel) comes into the finish to pulverise the previous best time - two minutes faster than Cuesta.
16:10 CEST
With all the riders on the road, Santiago Botero sets a new best time on the "flat" section of the course - the first rider to beat McGee at that point. But can he hold it on the climb?
16:21 CEST
At the first checkpoint, Armstrong sets a new fastest time (as had Ullrich and Igor Gonzalez fde Galdeano just before him) - now helmetless he has taken another 11 seconds out of Ullrich. Beloki is 30 seconds behind Armstrong. Laiseka still holds the best time at all the other checkpoints.
16:29 CEST
Steady but unspectacular perfomances at the second checkpoints for Laurent Jalabert and Didier Rous. But behind them, like yesterday, Armstrong is pedalling at a pursuiter's cadence; Ullrich is rolling a tester's gear. François Simon in yellow has dropped a minute and a quarter on the road to the first checkpoint - all the riders are now on the climb proper.
16:33 CEST
Good finish times from Vinokourov, Chaurreau and Garzelli, but still behind the flying Laiseka. Botero is 21 seconds faster even than Laiseka at 21.5 km, but that is not much faster on the second section.
16:38 CEST
Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano sets a new fastest time at the second checkpoint, but has actually lost ground to Botero on that section. Behind him Jan Ullrich takes another 50 seconds off that time ...
16:42 CEST
Christophe Moreau is looking weaker on the climb, and has dropped 50 seconds to Ullrich; Beloki too loses half a minute.
16:45 CEST
After 7 km of the climb, Armstrong has taken 47 seconds out of Ullrich to set a new best time - about 5 seconds a kilometre since checkpoint 1; he is likely to have Beloki in sight in front of him shortly. Yesterday Armstrong slowed on the later stages - will that happen today, or is it all up for the opposition?
16:54 CEST
Andrei Kivilev comes through the second checkpoint 4.13 down on Armstrong - his hopes of staying ahead of the flying Texan may well end today. François Simon - who isn't supposed to be a climber - is almost dead level with Kivilev - he should still be in yellow for the rest day tomorrow.
16:56 CEST
With 4 km to go, Igor Gonzalez has fallen behind Roberto Laiseka's time, but Ullrich is more than a minute faster. The virtual GC at the second checkpoint with all riders through has Simon leading, Kivilev at 11.54 and Armstrong at 15.54.
17:01 CEST
With 4 km to go, Armstrong is 42 seconds up on Ullrich who has again succeeded in holding his own after Armstrong's flying start. Despite his early promise, Botero has finished behind Laiseka and his time has also been beated by babyfaced Oscar Sevilla in the white jersey.
17:05 CEST
Ullrich is the first to beat Roberto Laiseka's time. Armstrong is coming into the closing couple of kilometers, and Simon is riding his own steady race behind. Moreau has lost two minutes to Ullrich, while Beloki has done rather better in the closing section.
17:09 CEST
Armstrong has finished strongly and has won the stage (unless Simon finds a time warp somewhere) a minute dead ahead of Ullrich. On virtual GC at 4 km to go, Simon - who is riding out of his skin - still had a comfortable margin over Armstrong, Kivilev rather less of one.
17:19 CEST
Andrei Kivilev comes in, losing 6:08 to Armstrong, leaving him just a couple of minutes in front to try and hold through the Pyrenees. He has caught Stuart O'Grady who just avoids being caught by Simon, who in turn is precisely seven minutes down on Armstrong. His remaining general classification lead is 13.07.
17:30 CEST
Stage result
| 1 | Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal Service | 1.07.27 |
| 2 | Jan Ullrich (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom | 1:00 |
| 3 | Joseba Beloki (Spa) ONCE - Eroski | 1.35 |
| 4 | Roberto Laiseka (Spa) Euskaltel ? Euskadi | 2.03 |
| 5 | Oscar Sevilla (Spa) Kelme - Costa Blanca | 2.24 |
| 6 | Igor Gonzalez De Galdeano (Spa) ONCE - Eroski | 2.31 |
| 7 | Santiago Botero (Spa) Kelme - Costa Blanca | 2.43 |
| 8 | Christophe Moreau (Fra) Festina | 3.00 |
| 9 | Sven Montgomery (Swi) Français des Jeux | 3.07 |
| 10 | Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Mapei - Quick Step | 3.08 |
General Classification
| 1 | François Simon (Fra) Bonjour | 46.48.36 |
| 2 | Andrei Kivilev (Kaz) Cofidis, le crédit par téléphone | 11.01 |
| 3 | Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal Service | 13.07 |
| 4 | Joseba Beloki (Spa) ONCE - Eroski | 16.17 |
| 5 | Jan Ullrich (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom | 16.41 |
| 6 | Christophe Moreau (Fra) Festina | 18.21 |
| 7 | Igor Gonzalez De Galdeano (Spa) ONCE - Eroski | 19.05 |
| 8 | Oscar Sevilla (Spa) Kelme - Costa Blanca | 19.31 |
| 9 | Santiago Botero (Spa) Kelme - Costa Blanca | 21.35 |
| 10 | Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Crédit Agricole | 21.48 |
No jerseys changed hands: Sevilla is the best young rider, O'Grady leads on points and Laurent Roux is the king of the mountains (and also wears the red number of the most aggressive rider).
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