It’s the time trial! 38.4 kilometers of pain awaits the riders, with someone looking more forward to it than other. It isn’t a completely flat one, containing two fourth categorized climbs.
Phinney Coppel
are, just like before the prologue, the big favourites for the stage win. Overall contenders like Gesink Spilak Contador
must look to limit their losses to Phinney
What everyone is asking is how much time the American will get. He proved unbeatable in Giro d’Italia, today there’s a fair chance he will be denied the stage win by the French hope Coppel, but for the overall classification, this really is a crucial day for Phinney
and all the other contenders!
Salas
is today’s early marker, coming home in 57’53. It does indicate that this 38.4 kilometers long course isn’t a fast one, and with almost an hour of riding, it should be possible for the best chrono riders to pull out big gaps.
Mazur
is the first real test though. He goes through the second time check (from now on referred to as the time check) in 39’38, which is a clear lead.
The Polish rider comes home in 56’50. That’s by far the provisional lead, 1’01 ahead of Bagdonas
who just sneaked himself a provisional second, a single second better than Salas
Mørkøv
has climbed reasonably well, passing the time check in 40’10, a provisional second 32 seconds behind Mazur. He stops the clock at 57’38, being the first one to be less than a minute behind Mazur. It’s 48 seconds off his pace and obviously a provisional second place.
He’s followed by team mate and Norwegian champion Stenersen
who does even better. 39’52 at the time check is followed by 57’14 at the finish! It’s only 24 seconds slower than Mazur and a provisional second.
The Norwegian was the first of six talented time trialists to cross the finishing line.
Behind him follows his team mate Reckweg
who did a good prologue. He has been solid today too, 57’06 is another rider grabbing provisional second, 16 seconds behind Mazur.
Then it is Bouet Aramendia
arriving at the finish. We compared them directly to each other at the prologue and there’s no reason why we shouldn’t here at the time trial, as they’ve started with two minutes separating them. History has changed though, as Bouet
is the better today, 57’05 is a new provisional second 15 seconds slower than Mazur, while Aramendia
posts a disappointing 57’16, only good enough for a provisional fifth.
Then there’s a Polish threat to Mazur’s lead, as Bodnar
comes home. But he’s well of the pace, 57’15 is a provisional fifth 25 seconds behind fellow countryman Mazur.
Another chrono rider from the Belgian team Lotto-Cervelo arrives next, as it’s Bonnet
being pushed by the cheering from the crowd! He went through the time check in the same time as Mazur, but he hasn’t been able to gain any seconds on the 12 final kilometers as he comes home in 56’55, which is five seconds short of Mazur’s best time. It’s provisional second place.
Just behind him follows another French hope for this stage. Bernaudeau
impressed at the prologue, but he fails to do that today, as he can only manage 57’01 and a provisional third place.
Sestili
sitting 79th overall before today’s time trial is the next challenger, but he never proves to be that much of a competition to Mazur. Stopping the clock at 57’15 he comes home in provisional seventh place, 25 seconds slower than the Polish leader.
Finally we have a French rider delivering! Rolland
takes the provisional lead on the time check with 39’30, which he follows up with 56’43 at the finishing line. It’s a new best time! He’s seven seconds faster than Mazur.
He’s immediately threatened though, by the Czech Kreuziger
But the Czech champion fades after being second at the time check, and stops the clock at 56’56, which is good enough for a provisional third.
With 19 riders left on the road, you can see the top 28 so far at this individual time trial. But it’s now the interesting part starts, as the GC riders and strong chrono men will decide the stage win.
First up is Martin
who is 19th overall 42 seconds behind Coppel before today’s stage. He does very well on the time check! 39’40 is only 10 seconds slower than Rolland and a provisional fifth there. Though, all the climbing has now been done, and it remains to be seen how he will do at the flat run in.
Next up to the check point is Valverde
and also he does very well considering his limited abilities on the time trial bike! 39’31 is only ONE second behind Rolland! Has the flat rating of the stage fooled us?
Eastman
is a slightly disappointment considering Valverde’s time, as he’s 39 seconds slower than Rolland with a time of 40’09 at the check point.
Then comes the best climber in this race, Contador
He blitzes through the time check in 39’31, just like Valverde he’s one seconds short of Rolland’s time.
Martin
looks to continue his good show here, as he clocks 56’58 at the finish! That’s a great ride, giving him a provisional fifth only 15 seconds slower than Rolland.
Back to the check point and it’s a disappointing ride from Krasnoperov
The climbing looks to favour the puncheurs, as he’s 54 seconds behind Rolland with a time of 40’24.
Then comes Keinath
and this is good stuff! 39’35 is a provisional fourth place, just five seconds off Rolland’s pace.
Just behind him it’s Van Den Broeck
climbing his way up to the time check, and it’s a new best time! 39’18 is a massive 11 seconds faster than Rolland’s previous lead!
Then it’s the Slovenian Spilak
He goes another 10 seconds faster, posting a new provisional lead at the check point with 39’08, being 10 seconds faster than Van Den Broeck.
Valls
is next, trying to limit his losses. He’s 1’06 behind Spilak’s time at the time check.
Lloret
is coming fast behind though, as he clocks 39’34, which is 26 seconds shy of Spilak’s time and a provisional sixth.
Attention turns to the finish line now, as it’s Valverde
approaching! He has kept his pace fairly well and stops the clock at 56’54, a provisional third place, only 11 seconds slower than Rolland!
Home favourite Sicard
is next at the time check, posting a time of 39’39, 31 seconds off Spilak’s pace and a provisional 10th.
With this time trial turning out to be favourable for the puncheurs, you must say Gesink
has all the tools needed for a good performance. And he certainly delivers at the check point! 38’46 is by far the best time, 21 seconds ahead of Spilak! This could be tough to beat for the trio left.
Back to the finish line, and it’s Eastman
coming home. He disappointed ever so slightly at the time check, and hasn’t been able to turn the pages. He finishes in provisional 19th, 54 seconds behind Rolland at the time 57’37.
It’s a new time clocking in at the time check, and it’s also a new best time! Phinney
has thundered from the very start of the time trial, and he’s a massive 26 seconds ahead of Gesink at the top of the climb. His time is 38’20.
Contador
crosses the finish line in 56’50, only seven seconds slower than Rolland and good enough for a provisional podium.
French champion Coppel
is the only one of the remaining two who can challenge Phinney. But he’s in difficulties at the climb. 38’50 is half a minute behind the American, and also four seconds slower than Gesink.
Wild card rider
Krasnoperov
then comes home in 57’56, 1’13 behind Rolland. That’s time he’ll have a hard time making up to the other GC riders.
Keinath
is far more impressing compared to the Ukrainian, and he stops the clock at 56’54, only 11 seconds behind Rolland in a provisional fourth.
Van Den Broeck
had the provisional lead at the climb, and now he’s looking for a new best time at the finish. 56’31 makes it happen! It’s 11 seconds faster than the previous leader.
Last year’s winner of the race Spilak
is next to cross the finishing line, and he lowers the best time! 56’19 is 12 seconds faster than Van De Broeck.
Valls
does well on the final 12 kilometers, coming home 1’28 slower than Spilak.
Lloret
flies his GC ambitions high with a time of 56’51, which is a provisional sixth, 32 seconds off the leader’s pace.
Sicard
then does his best to defend his GC place. But he must admit that he’s 41 seconds slower than Spilak at the finish line, going provisional 12th.
Gesink
held a clear lead at the time check, and he has just extended his advantage! 55’49 is 29 seconds faster than anyone else and today’s first ride below the 56 minutes mark. A great effort.
Coppel
did his best today, but compared to the prologue it wasn’t enough for a stage win. He manages to beat Gesink on the final kilometers, but he’s still 39 seconds slower than Phinney, and comes home second.
The brave race leader De la Fuente
ends the show and his day in the yellow jersey with a time of 58’22. It’s 3’15 behind Phinney, who will obviously wear the yellow jersey on tomorrow’s hilly stage.
Stage results
1
Taylor Phinney
Wikipedia
55'07
2
Jerome Coppel
Milka - AVG
+ 39
3
Robert Gesink
Project 1t4i
+ 42
4
Simon Spilak
Aker - MOT
+ 1'12
5
Jurgen Van den Broeck
Team Puma - SAP
+ 1'24
6
Pierre Rolland
Festina-Canal+
+ 1'36
7
Alberto Contador
Festina-Canal+
+ 1'43
8
Piotr Mazur
Lotto - Cervelo
s.t.
9
Manuel Lloret
Lotto - Cervelo
+ 1'44
10
Nico Keinath
Team B&O
+ 1'47
11
Alejandro Valverde
Koenigsegg
+ 1'48
12
William Bonnet
Lotto - Cervelo
+ 1'49
13
Roman Kreuziger
Milka - AVG
+ 1'50
14
Daniel Martin
Pendleton's
+ 1'51
15
Romain Sicard
Pearl Adidas
+ 1'53
16
Mathieu Bernaudeau
Festina-Canal+
+ 1'55
17
Maxime Bouet
Milka - AVG
+ 1'59
18
Morten Reckweg
Team B&O
+ 2'00
19
John-Lee Augustyn
Aker - MOT
+ 2'04
20
Sten Stenersen
Team B&O
+ 2'08
21
Maciej Bodnar
Pro Team Venchi - Sugoi
+ 2'09
22
Luigi Sestili
Pro Team Venchi - Sugoi
s.t.
23
Javier AramendÃa
Lotto - Cervelo
+ 2'10
24
Gustavo Veloso
Santander
+ 2'20
25
Welle Jallays
Pokerstars.com
+ 2'26
26
Wout Poels
Project 1t4i
s.t.
27
David Claerebout
Vesuvio - Accumalux
s.t.
28
Ryan Eastman
Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms
+ 2'30
29
Philipp Walsleben
Vesuvio - Accumalux
+ 2'31
30
Michael Mørkøv
Team B&O
+ 2'32
31
Leopold König
Milka - AVG
+ 2'33
32
Vegard Stake Laengen
Aker - MOT
+ 2'35
33
Dominique Nerz
Team Puma - SAP
+ 2'36
34
Konstantin Siutsou
Pendleton's
+ 2'37
35
Jelle Wallays
Pokerstars.com
+ 2'38
36
Paolo Scarponi
Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
37
Rafael Valls
Santander
+ 2'40
38
William Walker
Pearl Adidas
+ 2'42
39
Jonathan Castroviejo
Project 1t4i
+ 2'43
40
Gediminas Bagdonas
Team Bacardi
+ 2'44
41
Bauke Mollema
Festina-Canal+
+ 2'45
42
Mario Gonzalez Salas
Santander
+ 2'46
43
Sean Downey
Pendleton's
s.t.
44
Kevin Seeldraeyers
Team Bintang
+ 2'47
45
Gianluca Brambilla
Pro Team Venchi - Sugoi
+ 2'48
46
Sergio Ghisalberti
Team Bintang
+ 2'49
47
Martin Hacecký
Team B&O
s.t.
48
Moises Dueñas
Lotto - Cervelo
s.t.
49
Mikayil Krasnoperov
Team Bintang
s.t.
50
Mathieu Perget
Team Bacardi
+ 2'51
51
Martin Mortensen
Koenigsegg
+ 2'56
52
David Boucher
Pokerstars.com
s.t.
53
Westley Gough
Milka - AVG
+ 2'57
54
Frantisek Rabon
Milka - AVG
s.t.
55
Jure Kocjan
Team Bacardi
+ 2'58
56
Christophe Riblon
UBS - BMC
+ 3'02
57
Sebastian Langeveld
Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms
+ 3'03
58
Petar Panayotov
Pearl Adidas
+ 3'06
59
Kiel Reijnen
Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms
+ 3'07
60
Cornelius Van Ooijen
Team Bintang
s.t.
61
Arnold Jeannesson
Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms
+ 3'08
62
Cameron Meyer
Koenigsegg
s.t.
63
Johannes Frohlinger
Project 1t4i
+ 3'10
64
Andrew Talansky
Wikipedia
+ 3'11
65
Ioannis Tamouridis
Festina-Canal+
s.t.
66
Jose Alarcon
Team Bintang
+ 3'12
67
Matteo Rabottini
Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
68
David De la Fuente
Lotto - Cervelo
+ 3'15
69
Amaël Moinard
Simply Red Bull
+ 3'16
70
Ethan Weiss
Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms
s.t.
71
Artemio Moschella
Lotto - Cervelo
+ 3'19
72
Laurens Ten Dam
Project 1t4i
+ 3'20
73
Didac Ortega
Santander
s.t.
74
Thomas Ziegler
Team Bintang
+ 3'21
75
Jon Ander Insausti
Santander
s.t.
76
Alex Howes
Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms
+ 3'24
77
Romain Vanderbiest
Pearl Adidas
s.t.
78
Artem Topchanyuk
Aker - MOT
s.t.
79
Juan Pablo Forero
Milka - AVG
+ 3'25
80
Marco Brus
Festina-Canal+
s.t.
81
Evan Huffman
Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms
