Stage 20
It's the decisive stage this Tour, the 36 kilometre long ITT with start and finish at the historical Pont St. Bénezet, the bridge of Avignon. The route is flat, except for a short hill, with only 150 height metres. Can Nibali or Contador kick Gesink out of the maillot jaune?
The best time so far is set by Saxo Banks Lars Boom, with a time of 51'41. But when current TT-world champion
Fabian Cancellara has passed at the first split time, Boom knows that his time in the hot seat is over. Cancellara crushes is time by 1'49 and is the first rider to finish under the barrier of 50 minutes: 49'52.
Thomas Dekker is showing his Dutch champion jersey (designed by the great Maddrengen again) and does a great job. Of course, Cancellara is too fast, but he sets the 2nd time so far at 1'01.
Many riders finish behind Dekker, such as Evans, Brajkovic, De Gendt and Coppel. But
Richie Porte is faster: 50'18, 2nd time so far.
But then comes 'Der Panzerwagen'!
Tony Martin is faster at the 2 split times ('10 at IS 1, and '8 at IS 2) and has saved enough energy for the last sector to increase that margin. He sets the fastest time so far in 49'28, even '24 faster than Cancellara.
Meanwhile, the top 3 of the GC have left the start podium at the Pont St. Bénezet.
Alberto Contador clocks the 6th time after 15 kilometres, '26 behind Martin.
Vincenzo Nibali's first goal is to secure his 2nd place, and knows he may loose 9 seconds to Contador. After 15km, he is even faster: 4th time at '20!
Ladies and gentleman,
Robert Gesink has left the..... start podium. There are 36 kilometres between this start and the win of the Tour de France. He may be 1'38 slower than Nibali. Known for his slow start, he does the same now: 22nd at 1'00, so '40 behind Nibali.
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Times at 1st split time:
1. Martin 19'53; 2. Wiggins +'2; 3. Cancellara +'10; 4. Nibali +'20; 5. Porte +'23; 6. Contador +'26; 20.
Dekker +'56; 22.
Gesink +1'00.
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French
Christophe Kern rides a great ITT. The rider from Saur - Sojasun sets the 4th time so far, 1'08 behind Martin.
Vasil Kiryienka has had a very disappointing Tour so far. But with the 6th time so far at 1'34, he does a good job.
Bradley Wiggins is trying to make up for his pretty disastrous Tour. Okay, he'll finish in 9th, but he had hoped for more. Today, he has a great day. Only '2 behind Martin at the first split time, then '3 at the 3rd split time, so can he accelerate in the last sector? He looses 4 more seconds in the last sector, meaning the 2nd time so far at '7. Not bad at all!
Alberto Contador keeps riding in a high pace and maintains his 6th position at the 2nd split time. He has lost 12 more seconds to Martin, and is now '38 behind the German.
Vincenzo Nibali is on a mission to become the first rider since.... well, ages, to win the Giro and Tour in 1 season. He stays in 4th place, '25 behind Martin. Remember, he needs to gain 1'38 to Gesink!
And
Robert Gesink still has some problems in finding the right rhythm. So the small hill must be a blessing, as he can find that rhythm after it. But the margin has become bigger, although he has improved 2 positions: 1'28 behind Martin and 1'03 behind Nibali...
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Times at 2nd split time:
1. Martin 35'07; 2. Wiggins +'3; 3. Cancellara +'8; 4. Nibali +'25; 5. Porte +'36; 6. Contador +'38; 17. Dekker +1'25; 20. Gesink +1'28.
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When
Alberto Contador finishes, he knows that the 5th time so far, '55 behind Martin, won't be enough to win this Tur. He has recovered greatly after his black day at the Mont Ventoux however.
Vincenzo Nibali maintains his 4th position of the day, thus securing the 2nd place in the GC. 4th time at '38. Is this enough to gain 1'38 to Gesink?
As hoped,
Robert Gesink has found a better rhythm after the hill. Desperately not wanting to loose the Tour again in the final TT, as he did in 2012, he gives it all in the last 10 kilometres. He eventually finishes in 7th position, 1'02 behind Martin, and only '24 behind Nibali.
Robert Gesink will win the Tour de France 2014!!!!!! He only has to stay on his bike in the last stage.
Results
| 1 |  Tony Martin | Red Bull - Cervélo | 49'28 |
| 2 |  Bradley Wiggins | Dexia | + 7 |
| 3 |  Fabian Cancellara | Sky ProCycling | + 24 |
| 4 |  Vincenzo Nibali | Radio Shack - Nissan | + 39 |
| 5 |  Richie Porte | Saxo Bank SunGard | + 50 |
| 6 |  Alberto Contador | Movistar Team | + 56 |
| 7 |  Robert Gesink | Petronas - Monster Energy | + 1'03 |
| 8 |  Christophe Kern | Saur - Sojasun | + 1'09 |
| 9 | Thomas Dekker | Petronas - Monster Energy | + 1'26 |
| 10 |  Vasil Kiryienka | Pro Team Astana | + 1'34 |
GC
| 1 | Robert Gesink | Petronas - Monster Energy | 79h25'18 |
| 2 | Vincenzo Nibali | Radio Shack - Nissan | + 1'14 |
| 3 | Alberto Contador | Movistar Team | + 1'41 |
| 4 | Igor Antón | Euskaltel - Euskadi | + 7'04 |
| 5 |  Fränk Schleck | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step | + 7'13 |
| 6 | Juan José Cobo | Dexia | + 7'42 |
| 7 |  Ryder Hesjedal | Saxo Bank SunGard | + 9'43 |
| 8 |  Simon Spilak | Lampre - Alitalia | + 10'08 |
| 9 | Bradley Wiggins | Dexia | + 10'22 |
| 10 | Pierre Rolland | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step | + 10'49 |
Today's Winner
Word from the DS
Wow, this must be enough for Robert Gesink to win his first Tour, and become the first Dutch rider ever to win all 3 GT's!! All he must do is stay on his bike tomorrow. Ow, and Kittel only needs to stay close to Rojas to win the maillot verde. I'll say: no mass sprint at the CHamps d'Elysée
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