Well the final individual time trial was a bit different this year. Coming before the final mountain stage there are still some questions on how the GC competition will shape up. After being pushed around by the schlecks yesterday, the old school TTers of Armstrong Kloden and Wiggans had the opportunity to get some major revenge on the luxembourgers over the 40k today and ride themselves back into spots on the podium. The early best time on the day was set by none other than world time trial champion and week one race leader, Fabian Cancellara. Though Cancellara had a chance at the stage win, the real focus came on the final 6 riders and how the day would shuffle up the top contenders. Wiggans was first to go off, and had the best time through the first and third checks on the road, but would fade a bit over the last half to finish 6th on the stage, with an overall solid performance. Kloden just down the road also rode solidly to finish in 9th, but conceded 11 seconds to the brit, sliding Wiggans into 5th overall by a mere 2 seconds. Then it was Armstrong's turn to stop the clock, though he did give 47 seconds to Wiggans Armstrong hung tough to maintain his 4th position and finish in 16th, not bad for an old man but he certainly didnt put on the show he used to in the final TTs in his great day of yore. But these 3 men would all be given a gift of GC spot by the next man on the road, Frank Schleck. Frank is not known for his TT skills and showed why, finishing a sorry 35th and giving up 2:34, transplanting him from 3rd back to 6th overall. Little brother Andy kept the family respectable by giving up only 1:45 in 21st place, maintaining his 2nd position. The day leaves some big questions left to be answered about the podium on Mt. Ventoux, as Andy is 1:14 armstrong's better and there is only a 34 second spread between the texan and Frank Schleck now sitting sixth, with wiggans and Kloden respectively 4th and 5th. Though the final podium spots will be decided on the penultimate ascent, the question of who would win this years tour was emphatically answered today. Though his superiority was hardly questioned coming into the day, Alberto Contador added and exclamation point, setting best times by 15-20 seconds on each of the courses time checks and then hanging on over the last 12k to dethrone Cancellara's time at the finish by 3 seconds to claim his 2nd stage victory. Contador lengthened his lead to an insurmountable 4:11 over Schleck in 2nd. Contador has shown he is far and away the world's best cyclist, he can climb better than anyone and can TT as good or better than the best, barring the largest collapse in the history of sport this man will adorn yellow on the Champs Elysees.
Top ten GC with 3 stages to go:
- 1. Alberto Contador Astana in 73:15:39
- 2. Andy Schleck Team Saxo Bank in 73:19:50 at 4:11
- 3. Lance Armstrong Astana in 73:21:04 at 05:25
- 4. Bradley Wiggins Garmin - Slipstream in 73:21:15 at 05:36
- 5. Andréas KlÖden Astana in 73:21:17 at 05:38
- 6. Frank Schleck Team Saxo Bank in 73:21:38 at 05:59
- 7. Vincenzo Nibali Liquigas in 73:22:54 at 07:15
- 8. Christian Vande Velde Garmin - Slipstream in 73:25:47 at 10:08
- 9. Mikel Astarloza Euskaltel - Euskadi in 73:28:17 at 12:38
- 10. Christophe Le Mevel Francaise Des Jeux in 73:28:20 at 12:41
Tomorrow is the tour's last transition stage, but it is not one that the sprinters will look forward to. The stage is pretty flat until a late cat 2 will offer refuge to a breakaway likely full of riders trying to make a last brave effort for a stage victory. As for the 6 that have distanced themselves in the GC, expect them to try and recharge for saturday's challenge up Ventoux. Also look for the Green Jersey to be solidified by Thor Hushovd tomorrow. The Norwegian already has the competition wrapped up with a 30 point cushion, but with the late climb Thor is likely to get more points in the peloton's sprint while Cavendish will be left behind. Should be fun tomorrow because a lot of domestiques will be going for stage wins after hard efforts for their teams throughout the tour.
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