The team time trial is the most graceful exercise in all of cycling. It provides us, the spectators, with the chance to see beyond a shadow of a doubt which is the strongest team. The TTT does not reward pure power. It is a cohesive unit stretching itself towards the horizon in a beautifully synchronized rotating mass...um, wait, shoot...where was I...oh, of speed that has the ability to cheat time itself.

That's why the yellow jersey is such a powerful allegory in our lives.  The yellow jersey bestows upon it's wearer the mantle of a man capable of turning back the hands of time, but no many can do that on his own. It's often difficult for race fans to understand that cycling is a team sport when only one rider is warded the yellow jersey at the end of the Tour. Through the team time trial were e able to see how important teammates are to the victor.  Today's stage in Montpellier was a perfect example of a team that on the outside looks to be vulnerable to dissension within its own ranks when the reality is that the team can still focus exclusively on singularly goal at the appropriate time.

Team Astana has been bent from a rag-tag, crumbling Eastern Bloc, gulag fleeing, wild bunch of miscreants affectionately known as Team Borat into a well drilled, disciplined, cohesive and singular unit through the vision of two men: Johan and Lance. No matter what budget you have, without the right people in place you'll never win the Tour de France. Lance is a marvelous athlete. He had serious doubts about joining Astana for his comeback, but could never attempt the Tour de France with anyone but Johan Bruyneel. Today was a perfect example of how their professional synergy has garnered Lance seven Tour de France victories. Today was the perfect storm for all those elements to come together to give the viewers a great stage.

My prediction – Lance will be in yellow by Friday.