Posted on 07/07/2006 9:52:43 PM PDT by nutmeg
Course: With a week of racing in their legs, the GC contenders finally get their day in the sun with this critical 52km time trial. The counterclockwise circuit has two distinct halves: narrow, hilly back roads at first and long, straight flat highways at the end. The final 15km are likely to be very fast with a tail wind.
History: A total of 13 Tour stages have finished in Rennes, the unofficial capital of the Brittany region, the most recent in 1994 when a massive 270km stage from Cherbourg was taken by Italian Gianluca Bortolami from a seven-man break that contained Motorola's Sean Yates - who took over the yellow jersey. That same day, Greg LeMond ended his career when he pulled out halfway through the long day. This was in sharp contrast to his victory in the 1989 time trial that finished in Rennes: LeMond used clip-on aerobars for the first time, winning the 73km TT from Dinard by 24 seconds over defending champion Pedro Delgado and 56 seconds on main rival Laurent Fignon.
Favorites: Dave Zabriskie will be the clear favorite on a course with long straightaways that could enable him to gain the maximum time in a bid to take over the yellow jersey. With Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso not starting the Tour, the Americans Floyd Landis, Levi Leipheimer and George Hincapie and Australian Cadel Evans will all be close to the stage win; but perhaps the most interesting statistic will be the amount of time lost by the "climber" favorites, Valverde, Damiano Cunego and José Rujano.
Graphics by CyclingNews.com
I haven't had a chance to follow this year...who's got the Yellow Shirt thus far?
Robbie McEwen of Australia reacts as he crosses the finish line to win the 6th stage of the 93rd Tour de France cycling race between Lisieux and Vitre, northwestern France, Friday, July 7, 2006. Tom Boonen placed third and retains the overall lead. (AP Photo/Christian Hartmann)
Overall leader Tom Boonen of Belgium puts on the yellow jersey on the podium after the 6th stage of the 93rd Tour de France cycling race between Lisieux and Vitre, northwestern France, Friday, July 7, 2006. Robbie McEwen of Australia won the stage. (AP Photo/Christian Hartmann)
Five-time Tour de France winner Bernard Hinault of France, left, talks with overall leader Tom Boonen of Belgium, on the podium after the 6th stage of the 93rd Tour de France cycling race between Lisieux and Vitre, northwestern France, Friday, July 7, 2006. Robbie McEwen of Australia won the stage. (AP Photo/Christian Hartmann)
The pack rides during the 6th stage of the 93rd Tour de France cycling race between Lisieux and Vitre, northwestern France, Friday, July 7, 2006. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
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Tom Boonen of Belgium (see pics below). George Hincapie (USA - Team Discovery) had it for one day.
I hope Hincapie gets it back. The Yellow Shirt belongs to the US!!
I agree! Hubby and I are rooting for George to win it all... ;-)
There are some FReepers one wouldn't expect to see on a Tour de France cycling thread...and supportive of the sport at that. Simply amazing.
Let's see how the standings change after this 32-mile time trial. It looks like fairly smooth terrain.
~ Blue Jays ~
Ronaldo.
I have picked George as my favourite as well :-)
It will be interesting to watch the TT in a few hours.
Cheers.
On board for another day of the TdF.
Thanks for the ping.
Not pulling for Thor to take it all???
If he shrinked 4 inches, and dropped 30 pounds :-)
Not gonna happen.
I would love for him to get a stage victory though. Defending the green jersey from last year seems too tough at this point.
Looks like the only US rider to fnish so far is Chris Horner @ 1' 47" off the 44' 53" pace set by Gustaf Larssen of Sverige.
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