The flat stages have ended for now with no real surprises. We now head to the mountains where the real sorting begins. Team Astana starts climbing with 4 out of the 5 top placed riders, and certainly two of the best climbers. Lance Armstrong is in a virtual tie with Cancellara, who is a great time trialer, but cannot climb with the likes of Armstrong or Contador. Stage 7 will end with a monsterous HC climb.
Stage 7 will start in Barcelone at an elevation of 240 meters and climb to a finish of 2240 meters in Andorre Arcalis. The final climb itself is 68.5 km and rises 1680 meters. Expect to see team Astana set a blistering pace to destroy the other teams and climbers. The Schleck brothers will try to repeat their feats from 2008, but team Astana will prove too much. If Lance at age 37 can keep up with Contador, the yellow jersey will be his, but that will be no easy task. As the Schleck brothers, Menchov and Evans try to keep the pressure on, only the strong will survive. Expect to see Leipheimer and Kloden to be sacrificial as the true team leader emerges and race leader is decided. Lance or Alberto will be in yellow at the end of this day!
Tomorrow will show where old man Armstrong is really at.
what a key stage tomorrow’s event will be, I can’t wait. will Contador show Lance the door? stay tuned.
Contador really showed his climbing speed today. Look out Lance for the young man.
Contador is the man. He showed brilliant acceleration on the climb.
They just started in the Pyrenees mountains but it is already clear who the contenders really are and Contador looked the most impressive.
Ok Contador has broken away as has Lance, let the Astana drama begin.