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FEATURES: TOUR DE FRANCE TECH: TIME TRIAL GALLERY
Zap
July 22, 2011
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After nearly three weeks of high-speed drama that has seen several favorites crash out, the Tour de France yellow jersey will be settled by a race against the clock on Saturday. Organizers had hoped that three punishing days in the Alps, only a few days after leaving the Pyrenees, would have settled the race.
But ahead of the third and final day in the Alps Friday, the 19th stage from Modane to Alpe d'Huez, the 2011 Tour was still wide open with Luxembourg brothers Andy and Frank Schleck leading Australian Cadel Evans.
It means the 20th and penultimate stage, a 42.5 km time trial around Grenoble, would decide the podium once again. Back in June when the exact same course was raced as part of the Criterium du Daupine race Germany's Tony Martin prevailed in a time of 55min 27sec.
The HTC-Highroad specialist finished 11secs ahead of Britain's Bradley Wiggins and 43 ahead of his Sky teammate Edvald Boasson Hagen.
The man on whom most eyes could be fixed is Evans, the Australian who started the 19th stage only 1:12 off the pace of race leader Thomas Voeckler, 4secs behind Frank Schleck and 57 behind Andy Schleck.
Evans, who finished runner-up in the Dauphine for the fourth time last month, finished sixth in the Grenoble time trial at 1:20 behind Martin.
If the Australian is still in contention for the yellow jersey at the top of Alpe d'Huez later Friday, he will fancy his chances of a maiden Tour triumph having finished second in 2007 and 2008.
Neither Andy Schleck, who has finished runner-up the past two years, nor three-time and defending champion Alberto Contador raced the Criterium du Dauphine.
Contador was resting and training in June following his triumph in the Giro d'Italia in May while Schleck stuck to his traditional pre-Tour program by racing the Tour of Switzerland.
SaxoBank leader Contador suffered a dramatic collapse on Thursday to drop to 4:44 behind overnight race leader Thomas Voeckler, and a massive 4:29 behind Schleck.
The Spaniard, however, secured all three of his victories in 2007, 2009 and 2010 with strong time trial performances.
HERE ARE THE BIKES
Team Liquigas Cannondale Slice
Team AG2R Kuota
Team Saur Time RXR
Team Astana Specialized Shiv
Team HTC-Highroad Specialized Shiv
Team Astana Specialized Shiv
Team Saxobank Specialized Shiv (Contador's bike before the Giro pink accents were replaced).
Team Garmin-Cervelo P4
Team Europcar Colnago Flite
Team Omega Pharma Lotto Canyon (w/ custom stem mount)
Team Omega Pharma Lotto Canyon
Team FDJ LaPierre AeroStorm
Team RaboBank Giant TT
Wilier Twinfoil
Team Movistar Pinarello Graal
Team Sky Pinarello Graal
Team Vanconsoleil Ridley Dean
Team RadioShack Speed Concept
Team Leopard Trek Speed Concept
Team Katusha (prototype)
Team Katusha Focus with Vision wheels
WHAT ABOUT THE WHEELS?
Mavic Cosmic
Reynolds RZR 91
Shimano DuraAce C75
Zipp 808 Firecrest
AND HANDLEBARS & SUCH?
Team Liquigas Vision (w/third brake lever)
Pro Handlebars
Team Rabobank Giant
Team Movistar Most
Team Sky
Sram R2C shifters (inverted for UCI)
Garmin-Cervelo 3T
Team Liquigas two position seatpost
Tean Vacansoleil Fast Forward tri-spoke
Team Lampre Vision handlebars
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