Keeping Team Garmin-Chipotle H3O’s podium dreams intact, Christian Vande Velde once again put in a brilliant performance on today’s epic three-climb stage. He remained with the race leaders over the Galibier, the Col de la Croix de Fer and up Alpe d’Huez. On the final climb up Alpe d’Huez, Christian kept his cool despite the constant attacks and counters from the group of contenders trying to limit - or increase - their time gaps before Saturday’s decisive individual time trial.

Christian is shown attacking above in the final kilometers, giving it all he had. He finished 9th on the stage and held on to 6th overall, 4′41″ behind Sastre.

Team Garmin-Chipotle H3O stage 16 results
1. Carlos Sastre 6h07′58″
9. Christian Vande Velde +2′15″
42. Ryder Hesjedal +18′19″
79. Trent Lowe +31′48″
102. Martijn Maaskant +38′00″
118. David Millar +38′00″
135. Julian Dean +38′00″
136. Will Frischkorn +38′00″
137. Danny Pate +38′00″

Team Garmin-Chipotle H3O GC
1. Carlos Sastre +74h39′03″
2. Frank Schleck +1′24″
3. Bernhard Kohl +1′33″
4. Cadel Evans +1′34″
5. Denis Menchov +2′39″
6. Christian Vande Velde +4′41″
54. Ryder Hesjedal +1h33′10″
71. David Millar +2h00′16″
79. Trent Lowe +2h07′07″
99. Danny Pate +2h34′12″
112. Julian Dean +3h01′11″
139. Martijn Maaskant +3h22′41″
140. Will Frischkorn +3h24′44″

CyclingNews.com talks to John Vande Velde about his son Christian’s transition from super-domestique to Tour leader. As a former US Olympic and national champion cyclist, successful six-day track racer, former vice president of USA Cycling, builder of the infamous Vandedrome portable velodrome, he clearly understands and respects the level at which is son is performing

From the feature: “He called me immediately after the team time trial in the Giro,” said John. “He was standing behind the podium ready to get his pink jersey and he said, ‘Dad, do you believe this?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, I believe it!’”

John said that he felt Christian had a special ride in him since the Giro, but really knew it just a couple of days into the Tour. “I had to see him for a couple of stages,” he said. But he told me that since the Giro – where he was pretty fit – that he lost four pounds, took a pound off his bike and cut his hair… which is another half-pound, at least!”

PezcyclingNews.com talks to DS Matt White about Team Garmin-Chipotle H3O performance at the Tour and the race in general with his predictions for today’s Alpe d’Huez stage.

Said Matt White: “I don’t think that l’Alpe D’Huez stage will be critical. I can tell you CSC’s tactics now - Sastre will be sent up the road tomorrow, they have to try and isolate Menchov and Evans, they’re the danger men in the TT; but I don’t think Sastre is strong enough to do the job they need done. Apart from Schleck there’s no one going to have a team mate with them in the finalé. Menchov, Kohl, Evans, Christian - it’s going to be mano à mano.”

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.’ ”

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!