A Star Solos, Mikel Astarloza That Is - 96th Tour de France Stage 16

By all accounts, Mikel Astarloza (Eusaktel-Euskadi) has never had the opportunity, in his professional cycling career, to punch the air, raise his arms in victory, or even offer up a victory salute at the end of a race.

But that is no longer the case, as Astarloza rider soloed to victory on Stage 16 of the 96th Tour de France.

Part of the early break that would number as many as twenty-five at one juncture, Astarloza was a prominent figure throughout the day. Vacillating between the tete de la course and the first chase group, the 29-year-old Basque rider would bridge back up to the lead group several kilometers from the summit of the final climb. With two kilometers before the finish line, Astarloza was fully committed and quickly created a gap to his breakaway companions, who had no answer.

Sandy Casar (Française des Jeux) and Pierrick Fedrigo (Bbox Bouygues Telecom) would contest the placings behind and finish in second and third, respectively.

Stage 16 Results
1. Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
2. Sandy Casar (Fra) Française des Jeux
3. Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) BBOX Bouygues Telecom

Rest, It Does A Body Good
After Stage 15, he was quick to caution us. "There might be people out there who expect me to ride like I did in 2004, 2005, but that's not reality, I don't think."

But anyone who watched Lance Armstrong (Astana) ride up Stage 16's final climb, the Col du Petit-Saint-Bernard, could easily counter that reality is based on perception. And what we perceived was a 37-year-old former Tour champion who could not only still climb with the best in the world, but also climb away from them.

Armstrong's Stage 16 effort; however, did not have me thinking of 2004, 2005, but of 2003. On the memorable stage to Luz-Ardiden, which saw the Texan taste pavement because of a fan's musette bag, Armstrong would ride back and then over the lead group on his way to an incredible victory.

While this effort ended once he reached the yellow jersey group of his teammate, Alberto Contador (Astana), Armstrong's flash of form caused his anxious and excitable fan base to explode.

As the commentator/moderator of the LIVE blogging feed on LIVESTRONG.com, I was instantly caught back up in my fandom as people from all over the world expressed their enthusiasm in unbridled ways. Rest, apparently, does a body good. Vive le Lance!

Shake Up
A minor shake up to the General Classification occurred after Stage 16. Rinaldo Nocentini (AG2R La Mondiale), who wore the maillot jaune from the end of Stage 7 to the start of Stage 15, fell precipitously, and out of the top ten. Defending champion, Carlos Sastre (Cervelo Test Team), on the other hand, would work his way into the top ten, slotting in at the 9th position.

General Classification After Stage 16
1. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana - 63:17:56
2. Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana - 0:01:37
3. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream - 0:01:46
4. Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana - 0:02:17
5. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank - 0:02:26
6. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas - 0:02:51
7. Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Française des Jeux - 0:03:09
8. Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank - 0:03:25
9. Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team - 0:03:52
10. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Slipstream - 0:03:59

Jersey Leaders After Stage 16
Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana


Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team


Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas


Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank


Update: Jens Voigt Hospitalized
On the descent into Bourg-Saint-Maurice, German strong man, Jens Voigt (Team Saxo Bank) had a horrific crash. Unconscious and bloody, Voigt was transported to the hospital where it was later revealed that he had fractured his right cheekbone and had a concussion.

Next: Stage 17 - Bourg-Saint-Maurice to La Grand Bornand (159 km)
The Queen stage of the 96th Tour de France is certain to create a further selection as the riders bid adieu to the Alps in a magnanimous way.

• Km 18.0 - Cormet de Roselend (D.902-D.925) - 18.1 km climb to 5.7 % - Category 1
• Km 56.0 - Col des Saisies - 15.1 km climb to 6 % - Category 1
• Km 111.5 - Côte d'Araches - 6.3 km climb to 7 % - Category 2
• Km 140.5 - Col de Romme - 8.8 km climb to 8.9 % - Category 1
• Km 154.5 - Col de la Colombière - 7.5 km climb to 8.5 % - Category 1

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