Yesterday was a rest day. Today's stage is the last chance for any climbing specialists to gain time on Armstrong and the other overall classification leaders. Today could also be a good opportunity for Rasmussen to try to gain some time on Ullrich to try to finish on the podium in Paris.
(more below fold)
"Stage 16 - Mourenx to Pau >180.5km
Course: Following the second rest day (at Pau), this final Pyrenean stage features two of the region's toughest climbs, the Cat. 1 Marie-Blanque and hors-cat Aubisque. But after the final descent, there's still 50km of mostly flat roads to negotiate before the finish.
History: Pau has hosted 53 stage finishes since first being included on the Tour route in 1930.
The last time a stage finished here after scaling the Aubisque was in 1993, when Italian Claudio Chiappucci saved his until-then-failed Tour with a stage win over a small breakaway group.
Favorites: This stage is likely to be anticlimactic in terms of the overall picture, but a number of riders will be hoping to pull "a Chiappucci," particularly any of the "failed" Spaniards. Perhaps Francisco Mancebo, Heras or Valverde will fall into that category...."
http://www.velonews.com/tour2005/news/articles/8300.0.html
Links for following the race...
http://www.letour.com/
http://www.velonews.com/tour2005/
http://www.tdfblog.com/
http://www.olntv.com/