The time trial is the first chance for the field to really be split up, but already only 91 riders are within touching distance of the Yellow Jersey - the other 82 have all already lost time. World Champion Taylor Phinney is undoubtedly the favourite for the stage, and perhaps the leaders jersey - although Trofimov will fancy his chances of keeping the lead with a 40 second headstart. Cancellara should prove the biggest challenge to Phinney, while we do have a number of GC riders with good time trials - Pluchkin, Dekker, Uran, Spilak, Fothen and Madrazo. Today brings an opportunity to gain time on Cunego.
Of the first 82 to start, there are 2 GC riders in Kashechkin and Velits. But the fastest time comes from Kreuziger.
1
R. Kreuziger
38'58
2
J. Fiedler
39'04
3
M. Bernaudeau
39'13
4
A. Kashechkin
39'21
5
P. Velits
39'22
6
J. Ghyselinck
39'34
7
L. Bret
39'38
8
T. De Gendt
39'41
9
D. Champion
39'45
10
G. Bagdonas
39'46
11
C. Meier
39'48
12
Y. Offredo
39'51
13
S. Pauwels
40'01
14
F. Perez Sanchez
40'02
15
M. Sprick
40'02
In the next batch of 20, the top names are Ivars, Kritskiy, Keizer and Dan Martin.
The Bacardi leader has not really delivered what his manager has hoped so far this season, but not much more can be asked of taking 1st at the finish. But how long can it last?
1
M. Keizer
38'31
2
R. Kreuziger
38'58
3
J. Fiedler
39'04
4
S. Ivars
39'04
5
T. Kritskiy
39'07
6
M. Bernaudeau
39'13
7
A. Kashechkin
39'21
8
P. Velits
39'22
9
J. Ghyselinck
39'34
10
L. Bret
39'38
26
D. Martin
40'09
The first test for Keizer is that of Rigoberto Uran. He's not ridden the race the most economically so far - risking splits on Stage 1, and riding on the front on Stage 2, but is clearly up for a good ride today.
Its only 3 seconds but its enough, while Bibby and Schar have gone 10th and 11th.
1
R. Úran
38'28
2
M. Keizer
38'31
3
R. Kreuziger
38'58
4
J. Fiedler
39'04
5
S. Ivars
39'04
6
T. Kritskiy
39'07
7
M. Bernaudeau
39'13
8
A. Kashechkin
39'21
9
P. Velits
39'22
10
I. Bibby
39'23
11
M. Schär
39'26
The next 3 of interest are Vaugrenard, Henao Montoya and Grabovski.
The two time triallists both go into the provisional Top 10, while the Colombian pure climber loses just under a minute and a half to his fellow compatriot - although he does beat Dan Martin's time.
1
R. Úran
38'28
2
M. Keizer
38'31
3
R. Kreuziger
38'58
4
J. Fiedler
39'04
5
S. Ivars
39'04
6
T. Kritskiy
39'07
7
D. Grabovski
39'07
8
M. Bernaudeau
39'13
9
B. Vaugrenard
39'14
10
A. Kashechkin
39'21
23
SL. Henao Montoya
39'53
Not long after Grabovski is Karpets. Who is really threatening Uran with his time
What a superb ride from Vladimir Karpets. He finished 33 seconds behind Uran early this season in a 23km TT in the Tour of Romandie, but he has really produced something special today.
Also on course is Markus Fothen. On paper he should be similar to Uran and Karpets, but he isnt able to challenge them today.
Taylor Phinney started 3 riders after Fothen but will infact be the next rider to finish after the German. He's quick!
That's a massive lead for him! Trofimov will need to do a 38'09 to keep a race lead, which seems unlikely.
1
T. Phinney
37'29
2
V. Karpets
38'21
3
R. Úran
38'28
4
M. Keizer
38'31
5
M. Fothen
38'46
6
R. Kreuziger
38'58
7
J. Fiedler
39'04
8
S. Ivars
39'04
9
T. Kritskiy
39'07
10
D. Grabovski
39'07
Starting one after the other, Taaramae and Popovych will both be aiming at the Top 10
A good ride by the Estonian puts him level with Fothen, but Popovych may be dissapointed to find himself another 15 seconds further back.
1
T. Phinney
37'29
2
V. Karpets
38'21
3
R. Úran
38'28
4
M. Keizer
38'31
5
M. Fothen
38'46
6
R. Taaramäe
38'46
7
R. Kreuziger
38'58
8
J. Popovych
39'01
9
J. Fiedler
39'04
10
S. Ivars
39'04
11
T. Kritskiy
39'07
12
D. Grabovski
39'07
13
M. Bernaudeau
39'13
14
B. Vaugrenard
39'14
15
A. Kashechkin
39'21
16
P. Velits
39'22
17
M. Bouet
39'23
18
I. Bibby
39'23
19
M. Schär
39'26
20
S. Chavanel
39'27
Into the final 25 sees a number of top GC riders start in quick succession. Madrazo, Amador, Pluchkin, Dekker, and Spilak. (While the video below also shows the start of Trofimov)
Based on form so far this season, all will do well to produce a time similar to Uran's. Dekker did beat Uran in the Romandie TT, but Uran had the upper hand in the more recent Dauphine longer TT where he beat Dekker and Spilak by 10 seconds. Spilak, Pluchkin and Amador having all finished behind Uran in that Romandie TT.
And none of them can manage to come close to Uran today - nor can they beat Keizer. Pluchkin is closest, going 5th in 38'35 while Dekker will certainly be dissapointed to only manage a 38'46 - putting him level with Fothen and Taaramae.
Spilak and Amador were further off the pace, but its a great ride by Angel Madrazo to go 6th with 38'39 - he can be happy with some of the riders he has beaten, in the first sign that he might be set to bring his dominating Vuelta form into this race, where he lacks the home advantage.
1
T. Phinney
37'29
2
V. Karpets
38'21
3
R. Úran
38'28
4
M. Keizer
38'31
5
A. Pluchkin
38'35
6
A. Madrazo
38'39
7
T. Dekker
38'46
8
M. Fothen
38'46
9
R. Taaramäe
38'46
10
R. Kreuziger
38'58
11
J. Popovych
39'01
12
J. Fiedler
39'04
13
S. Ivars
39'04
14
S. Spilak
39'05
15
T. Kritskiy
39'07
18
A. Amador
39'13
Next to the line after Spilak will be Fabian Cancellara.
He never really came close to Phinney's time, and actually does well to take 2nd place there - barely ahead of Karpets.
In amongst the sprinters and attackers, Damiano Cunego already found himself in 8th overall going into today. He has the advntage therefore of knowing what his rivals have done, but today is always going to be damage limitation.
He finishes 2'15 down on Phinney, meaning he has lost 1'05 to Madrazo and a similar amount to most of the other leading contenders.
Finally, Trofimov.
Corsica has been great to him so far, but today, Phinney is unbeatable. The Young American will get the Yellow Jersey he deserves, as Trofimov finishes 11th, 1'21 down.
A good day for Phinney for sure, while Karpets, Uran and Keizer can be very pleased to have taken a Top 5 performance today.
