Everyone Can't Be A Winner II

Here you see Floyd Landis early in the stage being paced by his Phonak teammates

And here you see Landis later in the race being isolated.

(photos by Graham Watson)

Can you say B-O-N-K-E-D?
How sad was it to see Axel Merckx pacing Floyd Landis to the top of La Toussuire, 10 minutes behind Stage 16 winner Michael Rasmussen and dropping eight minutes behind the (re)new(ed) yellow jersey, Oscar Pereiro?

Before this Tour de France began, I questioned whether Phonak was strong enough to support Landis's quest for the yellow jersey. And with the exception of Merckx, Landis has been alone in the mountains, left to languish with insufficient support. Would it have made a difference Wednesday? Would Landis have cracked anyway? In cycling, the answers aren't always forthcoming, but the next day or so should contribute something to understanding this forever-to-be classic moment in Tour history.

Consider this description from Reuters:
LA TOUSSUIRE, France, July 19 (Reuters) -- American Floyd Landis lost the Tour de France on Wednesday when he cracked on the last ascent of Wednesday's mountain stage, won by Michael Rasmussen of Denmark.

And further description from VeloNews's Andrew Hood:
The Landis implosion was the worst by a legitimate yellow-jersey contender since Jan Ullrich cracked and lost the 1998 Tour de France over the Col du Galibier, the climb that (from the opposite direction) opened Wednesday's high drama in the mountains.

Here's what Landis had to say:
"Sometimes you don't feel well, and sometimes it's on the wrong day," said Landis, who plummeted to 11th overall at 8:08. "Today was not a good day to have a bad day. What can I say?

"I don't think it was a problem of not eating enough. I just wasn't good from the beginning. ... A lot of times I feel that way and I come around at the end. There was never a flat part for 15 minutes where I could recover. I think I would have been better off, but that's how it goes.
"I was struggling even on the climbs before that. I tried to hide it, but I wasn't good, and then on the last climb there was only a certain speed I could go, which wasn't very fast."

Perhaps you noticed that Landis's earpiece was dangling from his ear over the last 10km or so? What was that all about. Did he know it was over? Did he tune out his team manager? And what help did Phonak have to offer, other than a tow at the end, 10 minutes after the leader?

Not a glorious day for Floyd. And such a shame for all those supporting his gallant bid for yellow.