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Tour de France Stage 20 - Cérilly Saint-Amand-Montrond ITT
LeTour ^

Posted on 07/26/2008 5:45:12 AM PDT by green iguana

The final chance (most likely) for the riders to shake up the GC. A 32 mile Individual Time Trial. Nice and flat:



TOPICS: Sports
KEYWORDS: bicycle; france; tour
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I'd love to see them all bunched up after this so that tomorrow matters...
1 posted on 07/26/2008 5:45:14 AM PDT by green iguana
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To: whattajoke; CyberCowboy777; Aeronaut; jern; concentric circles; Petronski; Voss; stylin_geek; ...

TdF ping!

41 riders left to start. Eric Zabel leaves next. Best time so far 1:06:09, but the really good guys go last.


2 posted on 07/26/2008 5:51:18 AM PDT by green iguana (FREE LAZAMATAZ!)
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To: green iguana

Isn’t the final stage pretty much only ceremony? I mean even when Lemond came back in the final TT didn’t it just stand on the last day?


3 posted on 07/26/2008 6:07:55 AM PDT by Mr. Blonde (You ever thought about being weird for a living?)
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To: Mr. Blonde

Usually, yes. When Lemond won on the final TT, it was the last day.

But I think if today ends with Sastre, Evans and/or others within a few seconds of each other, we could see a contested last stage. Hasn’t happened in a while.


4 posted on 07/26/2008 6:13:22 AM PDT by green iguana (FREE LAZAMATAZ!)
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To: green iguana

Fabian Cancellara, the current World Champion (he gets to wear a jersey with pretty rainbow sleeves...) has set the standard to beat. Now 1:04:12 - a full 1:16 ahead of David Millar.


5 posted on 07/26/2008 6:19:09 AM PDT by green iguana (FREE LAZAMATAZ!)
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To: Mr. Blonde
I mean even when Lemond came back in the final TT didn’t it just stand on the last day?

When Lemond beat Fignon in the Individual Time Trial, it was on the last day ride into Paris! I haven't seen another end day ITT since so the organizers may now prefer the spectacle of the peleton doing the circles in downtown Paris over just a brief finish of individuals.

6 posted on 07/26/2008 6:19:23 AM PDT by SES1066 (Cycling to conserve, Conservative to save, Saving to Retire, will Retire to Cycle.)
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Comment #7 Removed by Moderator

To: SES1066

That day has to go down as one of the best in the history of the Tour - Loved it.

But I do think the winners deserve a chance for a victory lap in Paris - so having the last ITT the day before makes sense. I still miss the TTT.


8 posted on 07/26/2008 6:36:22 AM PDT by Mom MD (on)
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To: SES1066

I think you are right about the final time trial.

Watching the peloton circling the Champs-Elysées in Paris with a sprint finish is way more exciting than watching the end of a time trial. A time trial does add suspense to the finish, but isn’t so fun to watch.


9 posted on 07/26/2008 6:49:41 AM PDT by HangThemHigh (Entropy's not what it used to be.)
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To: HangThemHigh

10 riders left to start...

No change in the current top 5. Cancellara might win this...


10 posted on 07/26/2008 7:00:59 AM PDT by green iguana (FREE LAZAMATAZ!)
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To: Baynative

Except that Cavendish withdrew just before the Alps IIRC

Regards

alfa6 ;>}


11 posted on 07/26/2008 7:15:49 AM PDT by alfa6 (One mans magic is another mans engineering... L.L.)
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To: green iguana

Vandevelde is on the course! Go Christian!


12 posted on 07/26/2008 7:16:49 AM PDT by green iguana (FREE LAZAMATAZ!)
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To: green iguana

The last ten may have something to say about that

Vandevelde is currently doing 70kmh


13 posted on 07/26/2008 7:18:48 AM PDT by Mom MD (on)
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To: Mom MD

Yeah, I spoke to soon. 70 kpm... he’s going downhill...


14 posted on 07/26/2008 7:19:43 AM PDT by green iguana (FREE LAZAMATAZ!)
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To: green iguana

Kohl just fell off the ramp

? poss podium finish for Vandevelde?


15 posted on 07/26/2008 7:19:57 AM PDT by Mom MD (on)
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To: green iguana

kpm? kmh, whatever...


16 posted on 07/26/2008 7:20:15 AM PDT by green iguana (FREE LAZAMATAZ!)
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To: Mom MD

That is kinda fast. :) Be nice to see an American on the podium. He will have to keep that pace up to do so though.


17 posted on 07/26/2008 7:20:41 AM PDT by Mr. Blonde (You ever thought about being weird for a living?)
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To: green iguana

sorry, typing while watching
not working out too well for me
I have to leave to take my daughter to her Sat morning class - will have to watch on DVR


18 posted on 07/26/2008 7:21:24 AM PDT by Mom MD (on)
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To: Mom MD

Shumacher just took the lead!


19 posted on 07/26/2008 7:23:04 AM PDT by Mom MD (on)
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To: Mom MD

I’ve never seen anyone fall off the ramp before...

Vandevelde would need the ride of his life, and very bad rides by 3 others to have a chance.


20 posted on 07/26/2008 7:23:05 AM PDT by green iguana (FREE LAZAMATAZ!)
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