to VeloNews.com's Live Coverage of the 17th stage of the 95th Tour de France, a stunning 210.5-kilometer race from Embrun to the top of L'Alpe d'Huez.

With almost 15,000 feet of climbing over three hors categorie mountains, stage 17 is, on paper, the toughest of the Tour. It starts in Embrun, which also saw the start of stage 15, this time heading north through Briancon (42km) and on to the infamous Galibier, Croix-de-Fer and L'Alpe d'Huez that are among the most daunting climbs in the Alps. This stage could well decide the final outcome of the race because the riders will have been in the saddle six hours before coming to the final ascent. The 13.3km, 21-turn climb to the finish at L'Alpe d'Huez (population 1,700) is a classic, averaging 8.6 percent, with the 10th kilometer the steepest at 11.5 percent.

L'Alpe d'Huez has seen 24 stage finishes, the most recent two years ago when Frank Schleck - the man now in the yellow jersey - outlasted Damiano Cunego at the end of a long breakaway effort. Only two Tour winners have taken the Alpe d'Huez stage. Those was in 1952 (Fausto Coppi) and 2001 and 2004 (Lance Armstrong), although Greg LeMond almost pulled off the same feat in 1986. He was already in the yellow jersey and, on an almost identical course to this year’s, he launched a winning two-man break with teammate Bernard Hinault on the Croix-de-Fer, 55km from the finish. They crossed the line with their hands linked but Hinault's wheel was just ahead of the American's.

So what about this year? Well, a breakaway like those in 1992 (which gave Andy Hampsten the stage win) and 2006 (Schleck) is more than likely, so a rider who has lost time on GC could again win this prestigious stage. Vande Velde?

If the yellow jersey group reaches the base with all of the major contenders together, the climb seems to favor a rider like Sastre over Evans - based on their respective performances on the climb in 2006.

Top 10 on GC
1. Frank Schleck (LUX), CSC at 68:30min16sec
2. Bernhard Kohl (AUT), Gerolsteiner at 0:07
3. Cadel Evans (AUS), Silence-Lotto at 0:08
4. Carlos Sastre (ESP), CSC at 0:49
5. Denis Menchov (RUS), Rabobank at 1:13
6. Christian Vande Velde (USA), Garmin-Chipotle at 3:15
7. Kim Kirchen (LUX), Team Columbia at 3:23
8. Alejandro Valverde (ESP), Caisse d'Epargne at 4:11
9. Samuel Sanchez (ESP), Euskaltel-Euskadi at 4:38
10. Tadej Valjavec (SLO), Ag2r at 5:23

It's about 17c (62f) degrees at the start today. The sun is out and it's a beautiful Alpine day with light winds that are unlikely to have an impact on today's stage. The weather is perfect for this stage, so it seems that it will only be the day's four ranked climbs that tear things apart on the road today:


The Category 3 Cote de Sainte Marguerite, which summits at 1185 meters at 31km
The hors categorie Col du Galibier (2645m at 79km)
The hors categorie Col de la Croix de Fer (2067m at 156km)
The hors categorie Alpe d'Huez (1680m at 210.5km)

There are two intermediate sprints today;
Monetier Les Bains at 57.5km
Bourg d'Oisans at 195km (the base of L'Alpe d'Huez)

the peloton is on the road and heading to the start at the edge of Embrun.

If you have a comment, question or complaint simply hit the "Contact our editors" link at the bottom of our Live Update Window.

We will read all of them, answer as many as we can and even post a few during today's coverage... although today's going to be wild, so it may get busy at times.

The Barloworld rider who had that spectacular crash yesterday is in the peloton... and yes, the team did get its bike back, but he's riding a new one today.

the peloton is nearing the start, with 151 riders ready to take on the toughest stage of this Tour.

The flag is dropped and already a group of 15 riders have moved off the front. If they get a gap, we'll ID these fellas.

After 2km of racing, only three riders remain off the front of the peloton. Small gap, so we still await IDs.

our three leaders - Peter Velits (Milram), Remy Di Gregorio (Francaise des Jeux) and a Euskaltel rider whose name we don't have - are 15 seconds ahead of the peloton.

the gap is just 11 seconds.

Nooooooo...
51. Remy Di Gregorio (FRA), Francaise des Jeux at 1:07:20
68. Peter Velits (SVK), Milram at 1:31:00
91. Ruben Perez (ESP), Euskaltel-Euskadi at 1:52:51

At 9km our three leaders have 15 seconds on the peloton, with two riders trying to bridge.

Quick Step's Carlos Barredo is closing in on our three escapees, but the gaps remain small

Has been pulled back into the peloton. At 14km, our three escapees are now just 13 seconds ahead of the main field.

have been joined by Stephan Schumacher and hanging on to a small lead... just 12 seconds at the 16km mark.

the peloton seems unwilling to let these guys go.

At 17km the escapees remain withing sight of the peloton

the gap is up to 15 seconds.

Of the four, Schumacher is the best-placed on GC:
26. Stefan Schumacher (GER), Gerolsteiner at 22:05.

Geoffroy Lequatre (Agritubel) and Stephane Auge (Cofidis) are now trying to bridge to the escape.

The four leaders are 22 seconds ahead of the peloton. We're not sure where in the middle there, the other two are.

at 22km, Auge and Lequatre are 20 seconds behind the four escapees and 10 seconds ahead of the peloton.

have slipped back to the peloton. At 27km, the four leaders are now 1:09 ahead of the main field.

the four have 1:20 on the peloton. Has the day's break been established? It looks like it might be.

the three leaders are three km from the top of the day's first climb, a relatively short and easy Cat. 3 warm-up for the big three that mark the day's stage. They are now 1:39 ahead of the peloton.

Our four escapees are now 1.5km from the summit and have a 2:00 advantage.

To review, the men in the break (and their positions on GC are:
26. Stefan Schumacher (GER), Gerolsteiner at 22:05
51. Remy Di Gregorio (FRA), Francaise des Jeux at 1:07:20
68. Peter Velits (SVK), Milram at 1:31:00
91. Ruben Perez (ESP), Euskaltel-Euskadi at 1:52:51

is wearing the red dossard as the most aggressive rider in yesterday's stage. He spent much of the day off the front and we may see him earning that distinction again today.

At 31km, the foursome is now 2:14 ahead of the peloton.

Schumacher nails the four-point prize at the top of the Cote de Saint-Marguerite. Di Gregorio was second for three points, Perez third, for two and Velits gets one point for fourth.

The four are now 2:25 ahead of the peloton, having gained a full minute on the 3.5km climb.

Now, they get the pleasure of tackling the Galibier.

the four leaders are cruising along the approach to the Galibier. They now have 2:36 on the peloton

our four leaders have extended their lead to 2:45.

The leaders are approaching Briancon and have extended their lead to nearly three minutes.

Our leaders are at the outskirts of Briancon, one of Europe's most beautiful cities and site of some historic stage finishes in the Tour.

The peloton is being led by the CSC team.... already? Wowie.

the four leaders are now at 42.5km and 3:45 ahead of the peloton.

Our four leaders are at the 44km mark and have extended their advantage to 4:00.

the gap is up to 4:22. It's clear that the peloton will let these guys hit the Galibier first, but some of them may be pulled back, if someone among the fav's lights up the action on the climb.

After an hour of racing, the average has been a brisk 44.6kph.

the gap is now at 4:30.

Last year, the Tour finished in Briancon. Barloworld's Colombian climber Juan Soler earned an impressive solo win in the 159.5km stage 9 haul from Val-d'Isere to Briancon.

Soler attacked out of the main field halfway up the 12km Cat. 1 Col du Telegraphe and crossed a three-minute gap to join the remnants of a six-man breakaway on the early slopes of the hors categorie Col du Galibier. He then methodically rode them all off his wheel. From there, the relatively unknown Colombian rider made a daring dash to the finish, charging first over the top of the Galibier, then holding his lead all the way to the finish in Briancon, where he stopped the clock in 4:14:24.

A few of the names atop the day's leaderboard are at it again this year. Others, well, are not. One unfortunate absence is Soler, who crashed on stage 1 this year, and abandoned after suffering through a few days with a hurt wrist.

2007 Tour de France, Stage 9

1. Juan Mauricio Soler (Col), Barloworld, 4:14:24

2. Alejandro Valverde (Sp), Caisse d’Épargne, at 0:38

3. Cadel Evans (Aus), Predictor-Lotto, same time

4. Alberto Contador (Sp), Discovery, at 0:40

5. Iban Mayo (Sp), Saunier Duval, at 0:42

6. Michael Rasmussen (Dk), Rabobank, s.t.

7. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Discovery, at 0:42

8. Kim Kirchen (Lx), T-Mobile, at 0:46

9. Andreas Klöden (G), Astana, s.t., s.t.

10. Carlos Sastre (Sp), CSC, s.t.

Our four leaders have opened up their gap to 4:50 at 52km into the stage.

John-Lee Augustyn of Barloworld went from the top of the (paved European) world to almost the bottom in a blink of an eye yesterday, careening off the side of the road on the descent from the Col de la Bonette, the highest paved peak in Europe. He was able to scramble back up, but his bike tumbled down the steep dirt and scree for quite some time.

He eventually got a spare bike, and finished more than five minutes down on it. His battered bike was eventually recovered.

In Monetier-les-Bains. Don't let the 'sprint' title fool you, however - we are most certainly climbing up towards the mighty Galibier already.

As with yesterday, CSC has taken control of the pack. Yesterday, the Danish team rode impressively, shedding all but the best climbers in the stage's final kilometers. However, they couldn't shake Cadel Evans. With Evans the better TT rider than both CSC's Frank Schleck and Carlos Sastre, it is key that CSC open time gaps in the mountains today. Otherwise, Evans will ride his way into the final yellow jersey on Saturday in the time trial. So, despite being in the yellow now, Schleck (and Sastre) will have to attack the snot out of Cadel today if they hope to win in Paris.

1. Remy Di Gregorio (FDJ) 6pts

2. Peter Velits (Milram) 4

3. Stefan Schumacher (Gerolsteiner) 2p

2645 meters (8,677 feet) high

20.9km long

5,000 Euros cash for the first to the top (like Augustyn scored atop the Col de la Bonette yesterday)

1st of 3 HC climbs today

For reference, they're climbing up from Briancon, elevation 1,193 meters (3,914 feet).

Australian Stuart O'Grady takes his turn on the front of the CSC-driven peloton.

You may know O'Grady from such movies as "Paris-Roubaix, 2007."

The Col du Galibier is one of the greats of the Tour, it averages 5.6 percent over 20km, but reaches 12.1 percent near the top. The climb includes the Col du Lautaret.

The inclusion of the Galiber in the Tour goes back to 1911, when Emile Georget became the first rider in the history of the Tour to crest that climb. Georget was one of only three riders to actually ride the rough dirt road that year. The rest of the peloton walked on the climb.

We have four riders off the front. Three were clear by just 2km into the race:

51. Remy Di Gregorio (FRA), Francaise des Jeux at 1:07:20

68. Peter Velits (SVK), Milram at 1:31:00

91. Ruben Perez (ESP), Euskaltel-Euskadi at 1:52:51

Then they were joined at 16km by yesterday's most aggresssive rider:

26. Stefan Schumacher (GER), Gerolsteiner at 22:05.

...it's not really a crowd. It's more like a city.

That's what's on tap for the guys out there today.

Kohl still leads the climber's competition, the top 10 of which looks like this:

King of Mountains:

1. Bernhard Kohl (AUT), Gerolsteiner 85pts

2. Sebastian Lang (GER), Gerolsteiner 60

3. Thomas Voeckler (FRA), Bouygues Telecom 55

4. John-Lee Augustyn (RSA), Barloworld 53

5. Egoi Martinez (ESP), Euskaltel-Euskadi 50

6. Simon Gerrans (AUS), Credit Agricole 50

7. Yaroslav Popovych (UKR), Silence-Lotto 49

8. Frank Schleck (LUX), CSC 46

9. Cyril Dessel (FRA), Ag2r 44

10. Jose Luis Arrieta (ESP), Ag2r 40

With the crosswinds today, CSC has the field in the gutter, pressed all the way to the right of the road, hoping for a draft that isn't really there.

A few Rabobank riders down, but everyone up relatively quickly.

CSC isn't riding flat out, but the tempo clearly isn't a mellow one, either. It's a long single- and occasionally double-file line back down the peloton.

Last year, the Tour was bombing down this side of the Galibier. Soler was first over the top, then motored his way into Briancon back down below.

Their gap is 5:10.

Click on each man's name for a brief biography.

26. Stefan Schumacher

(GER), Gerolsteiner at 22:05

51. Remy Di Gregorio

(FRA), Francaise des Jeux at 1:07:20

68. Peter Velits

(SVK), Milram at 1:31:00

91. Ruben Perez

(ESP), Euskaltel-Euskadi at 1:52:51

They crowds, cars and campers extend way down to where our leaders are now, 72km into the race, and 7km still go climb to the summit.

And his CSC teammate Nicki Sorensen settles in to his work at the front of the pack. The 4-man break has 5:10.

A bit of headwind may hassle the riders, but the cloudless sky and warm temps are great for the roadside fans. Bits of shade-protected snowpack still dot the mountaintops, but it's all summertime up here.

We just spoke with Garmin-Chipotle’s Jonathan Vaughters to ask him about the day’s stage. Vaughters said that the break’s chances of surviving the day are quite small.

”I think Bernard Kohl may win today,” said Vaughters. “Either him or one of the CSC three.. Sastre or one of the Schleck brothers.”

As for Garmin’s top GC hope, Vaughters said he’s hoping Christian Vande Velde can limit his losses today.

“CVV is okay,” he said. “He’s a bit banged up. He had some trouble after the rest day, as some guys do. We'll see today. L'Alpe is a better climb for him than yesterday, so I expect he'll hold his own today. However, after his crash yesterday, we'll have to wait and see. He'll be up in the top-10 or really hurt from the crash yesterday and blow up entirely. Obviously, I’m hoping for the former.”

Bernhard Kohl has had some spectacular performances in the mountains, but this Tour de France may come down to Saturday’s time trial. How does he rate on that front? His most recent time trial, of course, was the stage four 29.5km time trial, which was won by his teammate Stefan Schumacher. Kohl finished in 31st at 1:47, 1:20 behind Cadel Evans, 1:13 behind Menchov, 1:10 behind Vande Velde and one second ahead of Carlos Sastre and 37 seconds up on Frank Schleck.

4. Cadel Evans (AUS), Silence-Lotto, at 0:27
6. Denis Menchov (RUS), Rabobank, at 0:34
8. Christian Vande Velde (USA), Garmin-Chipotle, at 0:37
20. Andy Schleck (LUX), CSC 1:29
31. Bernhard Kohl (AUT), Gerolsteiner, at 1:47
28. Carlos Sastre (ESP), CSC, at 1:43
46. Frank Schleck (LUX), CSC, at 2:14

The gap is holding at 5:20 for Schumacher, Di Gregorio, Velits and Perez.

CSC continues to dictate the pace, but there seems to be a bit more shelter from the wind here in the high slopes, against the hill and between the cars. The riders are taking the full width of the road now.

A few guys interested in the KOM competition have squeezed up to and off the front. It wasn't an attack so much as just jockeying for positioning. They're back with the pack now, but still near the front. Bernard Kohl, in his polka dot jersey, was among them.

The KOM points probably don't hold any interest for the four, but that 5,000-Euro Henri Desgrange prize certainly should.

I'll take that check, boys.

Kohl, Wegmann, two others go off.

He's going for some KOM points, and Wegmann gives chase.

He reels in Voeckler. Augustyn is up there with Kohl, Wegmann and Voeckler, too.

As the peloton approaches the summit, we now have about three guys trying to get up for KOM points.

1. Stefan Schumacher (GST) 20pts

2. Remy Di Gregorio (FDJ) 18pts

3. Peter Velits (MRM) 16pts

4. Ruben Perez (EUS) 14pts

Gerolsteiner's climber is riding away from Barloworld's Augustyn and Bougyues Telecom's Voeckler, as they crest the summit. The peloton follows closely behind.

Perez down.

Coming around a corner on the descent, Di Gregorio misjudged a corner, braked hard and put a foot out. Di Gregorio was right behind him. He locked up his brakes, and went over the side. He recovered quickly though, and was back on and chasing in no time.

Multiple choice question, readers. Going down the Galibier, is it:

A) Gorgeous, with the stunning views

B) Frightening, with the 'only-in-Europe' steep drops with no guardrails

C) All of the above.

1. Stefan Schumacher (GST) 20pts (plus that 5,000 Euros!)

2. Remy Di Gregorio (FDJ) 18pts

3. Peter Velits (MRM) 16pts

4. Ruben Perez (EUS) 14pts

5. Bernhard Kohl (GST) 12pts - at 4’45"

6. Thomas Voeckler (BTL) 10pts

7. John-Lee Augustyn (BAR) 8pts

8. Amets Txurruka (EUS) 7pts - at 4’55"

9. Kantstantin Siutsou (COL) 6pts

10. Carlos Barredo (QST) 5pts - at 5’00"

Behind the front four (who split a bit when Schumacher took a solo dig, but then was reeled back), we have Voeckler, Amets Txurruka and another rider or two who have gained an advantage on the peloton.

Are the three pursuers of the front four: Schumacher, Di Gregorio, Velits and Perez. Voeckler is leading.

Velits and Di Gregorio were temporarily gapped. Schumacher sat up and waited, waving them through with a little frustration. "Come on, then. Take your pulls." The four are nearing a break from the descent in Valloire, then will tackle the Col du Telegraphe. From there, it's another bomber descent down into Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne.

...If he wants to catch the break, which has a 4-minute-plus lead on him, Txurruka and Barredo. Voeckler's trio only has 10 or 15 seconds on the peloton.

Schumacher has grown tired of waiting, and he's gone clear of his breakaway companions at the base of the Col du Telegraph.

Not to sure what the thinking was there.

Behind the long CSC line is not only the yellow jersey of Frank Schleck, which is to be expected, but also the green jersey of Rabobank's Oscar Freire. Freire was clearly outshined in the drag races of the early Tour sprints by young Mark Cavendish, but now the veteran rider (and three-time world champion) is showing his endurance as a rider for the long haul.

Heading this way, north, over the Col du Telegraphe, makes for a much shorter ascent than the other way round. The awaiting Col de la Croix de Fer, however, is a different kettle of fish; there is no easy way up that bad boy. While the peloton remains largely intact now, it's likely to be a much smaller group after the Col de la Croix de Fer.

We didn't see or hear what happened, but Hincapie is chasing back on after a tumble.

And perhaps his teammate Adam Hansen, who was reported over race radio to be coming back to the peloton. Hincapie got sideways near the bottom of the Galibier.

Di Gregorio seems to have lost his nerve. After his earlier scare on the Galibier that sent Perez over the side, Di Gregorio is a little skittish (skiddish, perhaps?) on the Telegraph descent.

Besides Hincapie, whose shorts are torn in a couple of spots, there are a few riders working their way back up through the cars to the pack. Most are riders who were dropped by the pace over the Galibier. The Telegraph descent is winding but nowhere near as tight and technical as yesterday's bomb drop into Jausiers.

The gap is about 15 seconds now from the front three to the FDJ climber. He just couldn't hang on the descent.

Schumacher, Velits and Perez are nearing St-Julien-Mont-Denis. Di Gregorio has tailed off behind.

The peloton, being sucked along by the CSC train, is rolling along a ice-blue river in the valley below the Col de la Croix de Fer.

Lunchtime in Saint-Julien-Mont-Denis.

We've had a few readers write in asking about the Devil. Here's one:

Hi Live Update Guy - I've been enjoying the VeloNews live updates and watching Tour action on Versus every night, and have seen no mention of Didi, the renowned German guy who usually attends the Tour dressed in a devil outfit. Is he there? Hope he's OK.
Carol L., Bethesda, MD

Oh he's here. In the past, he was always staked out in the last 10km. This year his locations tend to be a bit more random. Didi will always be at the Tour... as long as he is able. Born and raised in the old East Germany, he saw he's been a fixture at the Tour and other great races ever since the Berlin Wall came down in November of 1989. It was, as you can imagine, quite a sight when he first showed up. The root of the costume idea comes from the old German description of the final kilometer of a bike race as being "the Devil's kilo." Didi decided that the Tour needed an actual Devil... although, with his massive kinetic bike sculptures, he usually doesn't manage a spot in the final kilometer, that's for sure.

The breakaway riders' lead has ballooned out to nearly 7 minutes as the peloton gets distracted with the contents of its musettes.

After being dropped by his breakaway companions on the descent, Di Gregorio has been dangling behind them, not giving up, but certainly not making any headway. He is now 1:40 behind the lead trio.

The lead trio is heading towards Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, the lowest point in today's stage. From there, it's up and away to the Col de la Croix de Fer.

He is not being told to sit up, that's for sure. Hey, five minutes on the peloton at the bottom of a climb is five minutes, even if you are riding alone.

Per longstanding tradition, the VeloNews editorial staff has a running general classification of its own throughout the three weeks of the Tour. Each staff member picks his top three finishers on the day, in order, with 5 points awarded if the winner is chosen, 3 points if the correct second-place finisher is chosen, and 2 points if the correct third-place finisher is chosen. One point is awarded if a podium placer on the day is chosen, but in the wrong order.

After two weeks, here is the current general classification:

European correspondent Andy Hood and senior writer Neal Rogers are tied for the yellow jersey at 27 points

Editorial director John Wilcockson has 20 points

VNTV Cameraman Brian Patrick has 18 points

Former VN European correspondent Rupert Guinness is the lanterne rouge at 15 points

Bernard Eisel has hit the deck. That's another man down for Columbia. His number was ripped nearly clean off.

And is back underway. Roundabouts may be a sensible way to control autotraffic, but they do wreak havoc on bike races. The peloton bunched up coming around one, and Eisel got pinched.

This is one of many heady questions.

Rogers, winner of last year’s VN pool winner, was off to a strong start and resumed his winning ways this year by taking the race’s first yellow jersey. But Hood surged into the lead mid-race by picking four consecutive stage winners in Leonardo Piepoli, Kurt-Asle Arveson, Mark Cavendish and Cavendish again.

There’s been some controversy as to whether or not Hood should still be awarded 5 points for picking Piepoli, as the Saunier Duval rider has since left the race for admitting to EPO use.

Here are who our boys have put their money on for the stage win today:

Neal Rogers

1. Constantin Sivtsov (Columbia)

2. Maxime Monfort (Cofidis)

3. Carlos Sastre (CSC-Saxo Bank)

Andy Hood

1. Andy Schleck (CSC-Saxo Bank)

2. Bernard Kohl (Gerolstiner)

3. Carlos Sastre (CSC-Saxo Bank)

John Wilcockson

1. Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto)

2. Bernard Kohl (Gerolsteiner)

3. Carlos Sastre (CSC-Saxo Bank)

Brian Patrick

1. Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d’Epargne)

2. Constantin Sivtsov (Columbia)

3. Amets Txurruka (Euskaltel-Euskadi)

Rupert Guinness

1. Carlos Sastre (CSC)

2. Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto)

3. Mikel Astarloza (Euskaltel-Euskadi)

CSC's pace is starting to sting on the lower slopes of the Col de la Croix de Fer. There goes Thor Hushovd off the back.

Those three are:

26. Stefan Schumacher (GER), Gerolsteiner at 22:05

68. Peter Velits (SVK), Milram at 1:31:00

91. Ruben Perez (ESP), Euskaltel-Euskadi at 1:52:51

79 brutal kilometers to go.

The peloton is spitting out riders left and right. CSC drives on.

Many riders are answering, no. Fabian Cancellara is drilling the front for his CSC mates, Frank Schleck and Carlos Sastre, who must place all their chips on the table today. Evans will blow them both out of the water in the final time trial Saturday, and CSC's climbers must attack and gain time today if they are to win the overall. Regardless of the outcome, you have to salute CSC for putting it all on the line and riding aggressively with every single man.

A few of the men spit out by CSC's insistent pace: Ciolek, Gilbert, Dean, Sprick, Cioni, Ramirez, Riblon, Dumoulin, Hushovd, Gerrans, Bono, Coyot, Sorensen, Vansummeren, Bonnet.

The peloton has cut its deficit to under six minutes to the lead trio.

There are guys coming off in chunks now. Whole groups are being dropped from the peloton.

Schumacher and Velits are riding away from Perez with 74km to go.

Jersey unzipped, sunglasses on the back of his head.

And that's just on this climb, the Col de la Croix de Fer. Another 15km await on L'Alpe d'Huez.

Or at least guys like Arrieta, Voeckler, Nibali, who have been dropped.

And about five minutes on the pack, which is about to catch Di Gregorio.

Click on over to our homepage, and scroll down to watch a video Brian Patrick shot earlier today on the drive up L'Alpe d'Huez.

L'Alpe d'Huez video

For many, that place is straight off the back. When he's done, CSC still has Arvessen, Andy Schleck and Voigt who are waiting and ready to sell out for Frank Schleck and Sastre. O'Grady has already given his all, and dropped back.

No way that break will survive.

Dropped? Of course not. They're just back to grab bottles for the boys. That's right - team co-leader Carlos Sastre is filling his jersey pockets and neck with bottles for his teammates. No prima donnas here.

The Amgen Tour of California will be expanded in 2009, covering more than 800 miles over nine days and visiting 16 host cities, race presenter AEG announced today.

Last we saw, Garmin-Chipotle's Christian Vande Velde was sitting in the peloton, which is taking a fair amount of abuse from CSC's pace.

Cadel Evans' Silence teammate Yaroslav Popovych is dangling behind the peloton, trying to get back on terms.

Schumacher and Velits have a 3:30 lead on Fabian Cancellara, who continues his one-man-band show on the front of the peloton. Or what's left of it.

Can be found here.

Of the peloton. After spending some time off the front, the FDJ climber is now off the back. Not to worry, he'll have plenty of company.

Bernard Kohl sits right behind yellow jersey Frank Schleck right up there. Behind Kohl, Cadel Evans. No one is going to be caught napping here.

Christian Vande Velde is up there, right behind Kim Kirchen. Valverde is in the mix, with Menchov on his wheel.

With 60km left in the stage, the young Velits has ridden away from Schumacher.

Velits, the world under-23 champion has 30 seconds already on Schumacher. The CSC group is only two minutes behind now, though.

But not before Damiano Cunego got dropped. Now its Kurt-Asle Arvesson on the front in his Norwegian national champ edition of the CSC jersey.

He has a minute on Schumacher but only 1:45 on the pack.

Garmin's CVV is still up there in the yellow jersey group - you can't really call it a peloton anymore - as is Evans, Kohl, Menchov, and a select few others. Andy Schleck sits behind Arvesson, awaiting his turn to put the rest in pain.

No one in the yellow jersey is attacking. CSC's climbers are sitting in. Bernard Kohl pats Schumacher on the back as he drifts back.

Only about 16 riders remain now. Milram's Velits is the lone rider off the front now. He's still a few kilometers from the summit of the Col de la Croix de Fer.

In singlefile we have three CSC men - Arvessen, Andy Schleck, Frank Schleck - followed by Valverde, KOM leader Kohl, Evans, and then perhaps 15 others.

Riders are grabbing water bottles from fans now, dumping them on their heads and backs. It's not hot, just sitting here, but the climbers' engines are running hot now.

CSC's Arvessen continues to lead unassisted. He has about 20 riders sitting on. Andy Schleck just dropped back to grab some bottles. Like Sastre before him, Schleck didn't hesitate to do domestique work, white jersey or no.

Velits won't get the stage win, of course, but he's certainly earned his piece of glory in rolling up the summit of the Col de la Croix de Fer alone.

The road narrows now, only wide enough for six or so riders across.

The fans press in on Velits as he rocks his bike up the last few meters.

And zips up his jersey over a newspaper for the long descent down to Allemont.

Securing his KOM jersey.

From the summit down to Allemont. Then, another flat 11km to the second sprint of the day in Bourg-D'Oisans. From there, it's on. Will the race be decided on the Alpe?

With 48km to go, Velits has opened up his lead to 1:16 on the yellow jersey group.

The Bouygues Telecom rider has attacked the yellow jersey group, which now again contains Cancellara.

Jerome Pineau is about 50 seconds behind Velits now. As neither is a GC contender, no one is paying the moves much mind.

In sharp contrast to yesterday's descent into Jausiers, where riders where sprinting full stick out of every corner in desperation, gaps were pried open and men went down in hard chase, the yellow jersey group is now taking it relatively easy. There's no since in killing themselves before the Alpe.

Heating and air conditioning manufacturer Saunier Duval has formally announced that it will immediately cease its sponsorship of the cycling team that bears its name. The news comes after the team pulled out of the Tour de France when its team leader Ricardo Ricco tested positive for a new form of EPO, a Continuous Erythropietin Receptor Activator.

Meanwhile, L’Equipe reports that Ricco’s roommate, Leonardo Piepoli has admitted using CERA, a drug that he and others thought was undetectable.

Pineau is being given free reign to try and catch Velits while the favorites ready themselves for the oncoming onslaught.

CSC has an armada in the front group:

Frank Schleck in the yellow jersey

Andy Schleck in the white jersey

Kurt-Asle Arvessen in the Norwegian champion's jersey

Fabian Cancellara in his "I will eat your lunch jersey"

Okay, he's not wearing that particular jersey today. But he's still up there.

Jens Voigt may be there.

Cadel Evans is there.

Christian Vande Velde is there.

Denis Menchov, Alejandro Valverde, Kim Kirchen, Sammy Sanchez, Tadej Valjavec, and Vladimir Efimkim are all there.

The duo have nearly two minutes now on the yellow jersey group, which clearly isn't interested in their antics.

Arroyo (for Valverde)

Sivtsov (for Kirchen)

Fofonov (Credit Agricole)

Goubert (for Valjavec and Efimkin)

Froome (Barlowrold)

Weening (for Menchov)

Casar (FDJ)

Moncoutie (Cofidids)

30km to go for the yellow jersey group

They're also all over the road. The team has huge amounts of supporters. The yellow jersey group has just passed over a stretch of road painted white and red, and packed with rapid CSC fans.

Cancellara is on the front. Again. We've already been over two HC climbs today, which should have dispatched anyone larger than the super-lean climbers. But here is the big Swiss, muscling his gear at the front of a select group of the best climbers in the world.

After having camped out for hours, if not days, the thousands and thousands of people on L'Alpe d'Huez have hit full-rave party mode. It's a whole other type of endurance event up here. The Tour riders may be able to put in some impressive rides, but the fans up here can drink.

Riding for Frank Schleck and Carlos Sastre, who are tucked right in.

There are a precious few more kilometers of relative flat.

On the yellow jersey group, which is about 35 strong now.

Lay just ahead. The 13.3km L'Alpe d'Huez climb averages nearly 9 percent, with pitches up to 11 percent. There are 21 famous switchbacks that grind up to 1,830 meters (6,003 feet).

The record from the bottom?

37 minutes 35 seconds.

Try that at home.

Sastre, Arvesen, Cancellara, Gustov and both Schlecks (CSC)

Christian Vande Velde (Garmin)

Evans, Aerts and Vansummeren (Silence)

Sanchez and Verdugo (Euskaltel-Euskadi)

Valverde and Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne)

Kirchen and Sivtsov (Columbia)

Froome (Barloworld)

Kreuziger (Liquigias)

Cunego and Szmyd (Lampre)

Botcharov and Fofonov (Credit Agricole)

Dessel, Efimkin, Goubert and Valjavec (Ag2r)

Kohl (Gerolsteiner)

Vogondy (Agritubel)

Menchov, Moerenhout, Ten Dam and Weening (Rabobank)

Lefevre (Bougyues Telecom)

Casar (FDJ)

Menchov marks him.

Sastre needs a lot of time. Evans is watching the yellow jersey. Riders are popping left and right.

Menchov again tries to claw him back, but fails.

Behind Evans' teammate Aerts leads the chase

Sastre still clear by a few seconds.

Sastre drives on

1. Frank Schleck (LUX), CSC at 68:30min16sec

2. Bernhard Kohl (AUT), Gerolsteiner at 0:07.

3. Cadel Evans (AUS), Silence-Lotto at 0:08.

4. Carlos Sastre (ESP), CSC at 0:49.

5. Denis Menchov (RUS), Rabobank at 1:13.

6. Christian Vande Velde (USA), Garmin-Chipotle at 3:15.

7. Kim Kirchen (LUX), Team Columbia at 3:23.

8. Alejandro Valverde (ESP), Caisse d'Epargne at 4:11.

9. Samuel Sanchez (ESP), Euskaltel-Euskadi at 4:38.

10. Tadej Valjavec (SLO), Ag2r at 5:23.

The group is down to about 9 men now. Sastre plows on.

Andy Schleck is looking back, taking stock. Evans is still there. Vande Velde is still there. Efimkin is there. Valverede is there. Kohl is there.

Evans immediately responds, then Kohl takes the front.

Schleck & Schleck are ready to go should Sastre be caught.

Evans is behind

He's on Evans' wheel.

It's a group of about 8 again, with Sastre clear by about 30 seconds.

The yellow jersey group is lead by Kohl.

Kohl follows with Valverde adn Vande Velde

Evans responds, then Valverde counters, with both Schlecks right on his wheel. A gap opens to Evans, Kohl, Vande Velde.

Vande Velde closes it down

Frank on his wheel, then Evans, then Vande Velde, Kohl, Efimkin.

Sastre still clear ahead.

Yellow jersey group settles down temporarily.

Valjavec is also up there with Efimkin for Ag2r.

with 8km to go.

two Ag2r men

Evans

Vande Velde

both Schlecks

Kohl

Valverde

Sanchez

Andy marks him, followed by Frank

Vande Velde leads the group

Evans marks him and comes round. Vande Velde is right on the wheel

Sastre drives on ahead with a 1:20 gap

But he'll need more than 1:30 to make it through the time trial with the jersey.

He has Valjavec and Efimkin in the select group.

Ag2r still on the front, put Sastre isn't coming back.

Kohl sits behind. The Schlecks are still there. As are Evans, Vande Velde, Valverde, Efimkin, Valjavec and Menchov, who has clawed his way back in.

The cat-and-mouse attacking and countering has caused two key things: Sastre to get clear, and Menchov to get back into the group.

He is now nearing the kind of gap he needs to hold the yellow lead through the time trial.

They've got a good gap

He is marked by CSC's Andy Schleck

Andy Schleck gets on him, with the rest of the group immediately behind.

Sastre has two minutes.

Evans drives the chase behind. The group remains intact, and no one is going to help Evans.

Vande Velde closes it with Evans

Vande Velde, Valverde and the Schlecks are still there. As is Kohl, Menchov and two others.

Evans drives the chase. Valverde sits right behind Evans.

On his wheel: Valverde, Andy Schleck, Frank Schleck, Christian Vande Velde, Bernard Kohl, Denis Menchov, Sammy Sanchez.

Evans can't hesitate now, as Menchov pulls up alonside.

Andy Schleck jumps clear in pursuit, as does Menchov. Evans continues at the same pace.

The clock is at 2:20 and counting.

Sanchez goes under the 1km to go kite. Andy Schleck is in between Sanchez and the Evans group.

It was a bike throw at the finish. Then there's a gap to the yellow jersey group, which contains Evans, Vande Velde, Valverde, Menchov.

But will Sastre have enough time to keep the jersey through the time trial on Saturday?

That was the final gap between stage winner Carlos Sastre (CSC) and Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto).

1. Carlos Sastre, Team Csc Saxo Bank in 6:07:58

2. Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel - Euskadi in 6:10:01 at 2:03

3. Andy Schleck, Team Csc Saxo Bank in 6:10:01 at 02:03

4. Alejandro Valverde, Caisse D’epargne in 6:10:11 at 02:13

5. Frank Schleck, Team Csc Saxo Bank in 6:10:11 at 02:13

6. Vladimir Efimkin, Ag2r-La Mondiale in 6:10:13 at 02:15

7. Cadel Evans, Silence - Lotto in 6:10:13 at 02:15

8. Denis Menchov, Rabobank in 6:10:13 at 02:15

9. Christian Vandevelde, Garmin Chipotle in 6:10:13 at 02:15

10. Bernhard Kohl, Gerolsteiner in 6:10:13 at 02:15

1. Carlos Sastre, Team Csc Saxo Bank in 6:07:58

2. Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel - Euskadi in 6:10:01 at 2:03

3. Andy Schleck, Team Csc Saxo Bank in 6:10:01 at 02:03

4. Alejandro Valverde, Caisse D’epargne in 6:10:11 at 02:13

5. Frank Schleck, Team Csc Saxo Bank in 6:10:11 at 02:13

6. Vladimir Efimkin, Ag2r-La Mondiale in 6:10:13 at 02:15

7. Cadel Evans, Silence - Lotto in 6:10:13 at 02:15

8. Denis Menchov, Rabobank in 6:10:13 at 02:15

9. Christian Vandevelde, Garmin Chipotle in 6:10:13 at 02:15

10. Bernhard Kohl, Gerolsteiner in 6:10:13 at 02:15

1. Carlos Sastre, Team Csc Saxo Bank in 6:07:58

2. Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel - Euskadi in 6:10:01 at 2:03

3. Andy Schleck, Team Csc Saxo Bank in 6:10:01 at 02:03

4. Alejandro Valverde, Caisse D’epargne in 6:10:11 at 02:13

5. Frank Schleck, Team Csc Saxo Bank in 6:10:11 at 02:13

6. Vladimir Efimkin, Ag2r-La Mondiale in 6:10:13 at 02:15

7. Cadel Evans, Silence - Lotto in 6:10:13 at 02:15

8. Denis Menchov, Rabobank in 6:10:13 at 02:15

9. Christian Vandevelde, Garmin Chipotle in 6:10:13 at 02:15

10. Bernhard Kohl, Gerolsteiner in 6:10:13 at 02:15