(AP Photo/Ena/Trovati/Trovati)
A great Tour for Team Discovery as another Armstrong teammate, Paolo Savoldelli, gets a stage win after getting into a very large breakaway and attacking on the last small climb. That attack whittled the breakaway down to four riders. Arvesen attacked with a little over a kilometer to go and Savoldelli chased him down, passing him just before the finish line.
Team Discovery/USPS must be trying to make up for the dearth of non-Armstrong stage victories in the past as lieutenant Hincapie got Stage 15 and now Giro winner Savoldelli gets Stage 17. Armstrong still has no stage victory for himself this Tour, but there's always the Stage 20 time trial.
Team Disco has had plenty of success this Tour and at the end of Stage 17 they now are: * First in the General Classification (Armstrong) * First in the Young Rider Classification (Popovych) * First in the Team Classification * Three stage victories (Team Time Trial, Hincapie, Savoldelli)
Their lead in the team classification is slim (37 seconds over T-Mobile), and it will be largely dependent on the Stage 20 time trial, which T-Mobile will have to race without Kloden (abandoned due to wrist injury).
- Stage 17 Photo Gallery (Graham Watson)
- Stage 17 Summary (VeloNews)
- Stage 17 Results (CyclingNews)
- Stage 16/17 Jambon Report (Daily Peloton)
TiVo-delayed Live Log
Prediction: The stage profile looks flat in comparison to the mountains, but it's hilly enough to probably disrupt the sprint teams. I have no idea who's gonna win this one. I wish that Horner had it in him to do another break, but I don't think that's gonna be the case. I'll pick him anyway and watch to see what break actually wins.
There's a big breakaway 17 minutes ahead representing 14 teams. Team Disco has CheChu and Il Falco Savoldelli in the break. Lets hope that Disco gets another stage win for Lance's teammates. Sevilla is the highest placed rider.
Team Disco is riding at the front of the peloton, very relaxed. McEwen's Lotto isn't trying to reel in the break, which is now almost 21 minutes ahead.
Dekker and another rider made an attempt to getaway from the break with 49k to go, but they are caught.
Grivko is counterattacking. He's getting a bit of daylight. There are a bunch of attacks on the break now. Demoulin bridges across. There's a bunch of riders including Savoldelli whose making it across. The break is in three sections right now, all pretty close to each other. It looks like about six riders from the break will be left behind when this finally shapes up. They're down to 8 or so. It looks like CheChu is one of the riders being left behind. Dekker is bridging across to the group in front.
The gropu of 8 is doing a somewhat adhoc two-line formation.
10.5k to go
I'm crossing my fingers for Il Falco Savodelli now.
They're starting a baby climb now, so there should be some more whittling of the break.
Sevilla has rode up to 12th place.
Tankink has attacked and the break is starting to separate apart.
Sebastian Hinault just blew by Tankink.
Savoldelli is now attacking and blowing past Tankink to try and catch Hinault. Hinault is now riding on Savoldelli's wheel.
They're over the top of the little climb. 6.5k to go
Savoldelli is obviously the better rider of the two, so he has a good chance at winning now.
3.5k to go. six second gap between the Savoldelli/Hinault and their pursuers
Savoldelli attacks just as they were about to be caught. Savoldelli is caught by chase group of 2. They grou pof four is soft pedalling now, tryin gto figure out who's gonna attack next.
Arvesen attacks. Savoldelli sits on Gehrin's and Hinault's wheel to try and get them to chase. 1k to go. They're trying to make Savoldelli come through and chase. Savoldelli is pursuing. Hinault is just sitting on Savoldelli's wheel as he chases. Hinault cracks and Savoldelli is catching up to Averson. Savoldelli is passing Arvesen near the finish line and WINS!
