Posted on 07/22/2005 10:14:20 PM PDT by nutmeg
Stage 20 - Saturday, July 23: Saint-Etienne - Saint-Etienne ITT, 55 km
The showdown! All things being equal (and even with a few inequalitites) the individual time trial should provide a great spectacle at the end of a gruelling three weeks - Armstrong thrives in this race against the clock, and his dominance is well documented. But if we have a situation like 2003, this could be the clincher for the leader going into the stage, or it could provide the challenger with a whisker of hope. Here's hoping the weather stays fine and we get Ullrich out firing and witness Basso's improvement in time trialling, which has also been well-documented. The distance suits Armstrong, but the undulating terrain suits Ullrich's ability to push the big gears and power along. A surprise may be in the works, but chances are it'll come down to these two, regardless of where they are on GC - but it's also likely they'll both be at the pointy end of the field.
I don't understand that last crash. It looked like he just ditched on purpose. Or maybe he's so paranoid about blowing another tire now he's totally spooked about the road surface?
Michael Rasmussen looks in those polka dots, falling all over the place, reminds me of that tragic clown Pagliacchi. I can't believe all the bad things that are happening to him. (Sorry to make fun... I really do feel bad for him)
Poor guy. Lance is cutting the corners awful tight, so far so good!
At least Ras can't lose his polka-dots!
Commentators on Velo News now saying this is one of the worst final time trials ever ridden by a top three contender, even surpassing the Riis ITT at Euro Disney in 1997.
Looks like Basso went out too fast.
Lance is up on the second time check!
"16:21 - Armstrong Ready To Race...
Lance Armstrong is about to start his bid for his first solo stage win in his final race. The American is going to be followed by John Kerry who is in France to attend the Tour de France."
From your link.
Basso 0:34 down to Ullrich at the 35KM time check.
Armstrong crosses 35 km at 46:38, first and 18 seconds faster than Ullrich.
He has to finish tomorrow to keep the dots. A crash that injured him could prevent that.
skerry still trailing.
Ras isn't through yet, but it doesn't matter...
SAINT-ROMAIN-EN-JAREZ (D.65-D.6) - km 35 155riders
Last rider : 001 ARMSTRONG (USA, DSC) - 1st in 00:46:38
1- 001 ARMSTRONG (USA, DSC) 00:46:38
2- 011 ULLRICH (GER, TMO) 00:46:57 19"
3- 021 BASSO (ITA, CSC) 00:47:31 53"
4- 023 JULICH (USA, CSC) 00:47:37 01' 00"
5- 019 VINOKOUROV (KAZ, TMO) 00:47:38 01' 00"
Ullrich 0:38 up on Vino at the 40 km point.
THAT'S IT! THe whole scene was eerily evocative of something to me but I couldn't put my finger on it. The polka dots are the clincher! Poor baby.
Lance has not yet passed Ras, but he just caught him.
Lance is going to take this stage if he doesn't crash! (or if Jean Francois Kerry doesn't distract him)
Just passed Rass and gave him the "look" ,
Yeah I was just thinking that since I don't think he has won a stage this tour, I suspect he pulls out the stops to win this one.
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