St. 16, Norwegian Storm: Hushovd Outsprints Countryman Hagen; Contador and Evans Gain Time

If there is a God, his name is Thor Hushovd. At least in the minds of the Norwegian sporting public. The 33-year-old Hushovd of team Garmin-Cervelo outs-printed countryman Edvaldo Boasson Hagen of Sky Pro Cycling team, to win his second stage of this year's Tour de France. It was another indomitable performance for Hushovd, who, along with Frenchman and current leader Thomas Voeckler, are the revelations of this year's race.
     Hushovd escaped with six other riders and on a stormy, rainy day, catapulted from his breakaway companion in the final kilometers to beat Hagen. His descent off the final climb of the day on the rain-slicked roads was impressive as he put time on half of his chasers.
     Meanwhile, the race for the general classification began to heat up in earnest as three-time defending champion Alberto Contador attacked on the relatively tame Col de Magne and descended equally impressively as Hushovd to the finish. Only Australian rival Cadel Evans of BMC Racing kept pace and actually put a few seconds into the tiny Spaniard in the run-up to the finish. Contador trimmed 18 seconds from leader Voeckler and more importantly more than a minute on Andy and Frank Schleck, setting up a dramatic five-day conclusion of the world's biggest bike race through the Alps.
     The leader board was shook up as Cadel Evans moved into second place ahead of Frank Schleck and Sammy Sanchez moved into fifth place overall. American Tom Danielson continues to impress, hanging on to 9th place overall only 6:04 behind leader Voeckler. And, his best days may be ahead of him on the long climbs through the Alps. Teammate and strongman Christian Vandevelde is set to support Danielson the next couple days to hopefully set him up to jump up a final place or two before Saturday's time trial. Of the top 10 contenders, Danielson is arguably among the top four time trialists with Evans, Contador and Basso.
  
Stage 17 predictions: Everyone, including Voeckler, is wondering when he will crack. With monster mountain stages Thursday and Friday, and a stage similar course profile to Tuesday's stage on Wednesday, expect more curve balls to be shot into the overall race. Voeckler should keep his jersey at least one more day before seceding to Evans on Thursday.  Expect more from Rueben Perez and Sammy Sanchez and the climbing specialist at the Euskatel-Euskadi team. The more Perez can set up Sanchez, still a sleeper for the podium, the better for the 2008 Olympic champion. Will Evans and Contador will remain opportunistic or merely monitor the Schlecks, who no doubt are bidding time for Thursday and Friday. It gives ample opportunity for another breakaway of strongmen down in the general classification to make a bid for a stage win with a solo rider (like Hushovd on Tuesday) make a valiant attempt to take chances on the final descent to win.