Writing for Roadcycling.com, Julian Dean talks about meeting Pat Riley and Michael Douglas on Alpe d’Huez.

The Charleston Gazette talks to hometown hero Will Frischkorn about the optimism surrounding the recent suspensions for positive doping tests at the Tour de France.

“There’s a definite feeling of moving forward,” said the Charleston native who is competing in his first Tour. “It’s actually catching people these days. There’s very few people taking the risk. We feel like it is making a difference finally.”

Today’s short, double HC climb stage was packed with action from the start. Danny Pate and Ryder Hesjedal (above center) joined a break of 20+ riders before the base of the first climb, the Col de la Lombarde (2351m). Behind, Christian Vande Velde (above left) stuck close to the yellow jersey group with all the top contenders.

It wasn’t until the race hit the second HC climb - the 2802m Cime de la Bonette-Restefond - that the day’s challenges started to take their toll. Ryder managed to stay with the front chase group about half way up the Restefond. Meanwhile, Christian was giving it his all to stay with the CSC-charged yellow jersey group on the grueling climb. He was eventually gapped with about 6 km to go to the summit.

Despite sliding out on a corner of the fast, sinuous descent, Christian finished 26th in Jausiers and moved to 6th overall with a 3′15″ gap. Ryder finished a respectable 30th on this decisive stage.

“Ryder and Christian were going full gas to make up the small time on the very technical descent and Christian just slid out on a corner,” said DS Matt White. “He is fine and just got up and continued full throttle down to the finish.”

Team Garmin-Chipotle H3O stage 16 results
1. Cyril Dessel 4h31′27″
26. Christian Vande Velde +4′04″
30. Ryder Hesjedal +4′27″
87. Trent Lowe +24′19″
93. Danny Pate +28′32″
108. Martijn Maaskant +31′56″
114. Julian Dean +31′56″
120. Will Frischkorn +31′56″
144. David Millar +31′56″

Team Garmin-Chipotle H3O GC
1. Frank Schleck +68h30′16″
2. Bernhard Kohl +7″
3. Cadel Evans +8″
4. Carlos Sastre +49″
5. Denis Menchov +1′13″
6. Christian Vande Velde +3′15″
56. Ryder Hesjedal +1h15′40″
65. David Millar +1h23′05″
78. Trent Lowe +1h36′08″
94. Danny Pate +1h57′01″
111. Julian Dean +2′24′00″
138. Martijn Maaskant +2′45′30″
139. Will Frischkorn +2′47′33″

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports on Michael Friedman’s recent presidential encounter as part of a special dinner for Olympic athletes at the White House.

“Have you ever, in one day, gone to a function at the Rose Garden, watched the president come out of the Oval Office and speak three feet away from you, then shake your hand and say, ‘Hey, you’re the cyclist, right?’ then walk back into the Oval Office and invite you with him?” Friedman said by phone from Washington.

Bicycling.com talks to Team Garmin-Chipotle Team Physiologist Allen Lim for an inside look at the team’s daily menu that includes meals prepared by the famous Chef Willy Balmat.

From the article: “Post-stage on the team bus, which also has its own refrigerator, riders snack on white rice and eggs drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar (which Mr. Lim says helps speed the rate the body is able to absorb precious energy stores) and also light, fresh dishes such as cantaloupe wrapped in prosciutto or mozzarella and tomato caprese salad. ‘Christian always eats a big plate of rice with honey and Siracha hot sauce, and eggs,’ says Mr. Lim. In addition, riders drink a protein and carbohydrate shake, and a Clif electrolyte drink mixed with extra salt and potassium. ‘Fluid is huge,’ says Mr. Lim. ‘We make them drink a mandatory amount of 1.5 liters in the first hour off the bike.’ ”

Location:
Cuneo, Italy & Alpes de Hautes-Provence, France

Overview:
Team Garmin-Chipotle riders are recording the stages of the 2008 Tour de France with their Garmin Edge 705s for all you data hungry fans out there. Each day we will feature one rider and his data.

After a rest day in Cuneo, stage 16 takes the race back in to the high mountains. The start is slightly uphill from Cuneo, Italy as the riders cross back in to France by way of the 21.2 km Col de la Lombarde. This hors category climb has grades averaging 7%. After a fast downhill to Isola, France, the riders can look forward to climbing the highest paved road in France, the 2802 meter Cime de la Bonette-Restefond. The second hors category climb of the day, the Bonette-Restefond is 26.7 km long with 6.2% average grades. The finish is downhill into Jausiers.

As one of the team’s two pure climbers, Trent Lowe stuck with team leader Christian Vande Velde for most of the first climb up the Col de la Lombarde. Trent finished 87th on today’s grueling stage.

Difficulty: Difficult

Distance: 95.82 miles

Total Elevation Gain: 13,298 ft.

Google Earth:   View on Google Earth

MotionBased:   View on MotionBased

Download Ride Data:   GPS Device   GPX   HST   CRS

As part of his daily VeloNews diaries, Will Frischkorn writes about the intense stage 16 in the Alps and life in the gruppetto.

“I didn’t see much more of what went down at the front after this point … gruppetto had my name all over it. What started as a group of around 20 was probably 70 guys by the end of the second climb. McEwen is the bus driver here for sure and I pity the fool that decides to try and set a pace he doesn’t approve of.”

Report from DS Matt White

Our strategy has not changed!

We have Christian in very good position in the general classification in the closet Tour in memory. The pressure is for other teams and riders to get rid of Christian in the next two days. Our plan is to just limit any time lost to the climbing specialists and let Christian’s time trial talents shine on Saturday! The rest of the team is in full support of this and will give all they have to be around him as long as possible!