CyclingRevealed's First Impressions '05

Stage 15: Lézat-sur-Lèze to Saint-Lary Soulan (Pla d'Adet), 205.5 km

By George!

Throughout this Tour Jan Ullrich and his T-Mobile team have been severely criticized for their lack of aggression in pursuit of the Yellow Jersey. Probably the least complimentary person of all is their own team manager, the abrasive Walter Godefroot. Above all Ullrich is singled out for his lack of preparation and his poor winter habits that lead to considerable weight gains.

Today at long last the T-mobile boys got their act together. With a premeditated plan they burst into action on the HC climb of the Port de Pailheres. Giuseppe Guerini set a blistering pace that destroyed the peloton and dispatched Armstrong's team out of the back. With Lance isolated, T-Mobile continued their attacks. Armstrong stayed cool and dealt with each salvo elegantly. After one acceleration from Vinokourov, Armstrong pulled him back and made a point of riding beside him while looking totally at ease. By this time T-Mobile with the clear advantage of numbers were showing signs of desperation. They were throwing everything at Lance. Nothing worked except that Armstrong was now breaking them as a group psychologically.

Over the top of the Pailheres four riders accompanied Armstrong. Ullrich was the sole survivor from the T-Mobile gang. On the descent Vinokourov and Kloden made it back. As the climb to the finish at Ax-3-Domaines started Vinokourov attacked again. His own teammate Kloden dragged him back ostensibly setting Ullrich up for an attack. Armstrong did not need his team; he had T-Mobile working for him! Ivan Basso then started dueling with Armstrong and their combined accelerations made Ullrich lose contact. He slipped back to lose 18 seconds at the finish. Maybe the kitchen sink would have helped T-Mobile today!

Fifty six seconds ahead of second placed Armstrong was the real hero of the day. Austrian Georg Totschnig (Gerolsteiner) was the final survivor of a 200km plus break. It is sad that such an astounding performance should be over shadowed by the fight behind. But at 34 years old, this will be one day in his accomplished career that he will never forget

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