Bradley Wiggins' lead in the Tour ought to be consolidated by tonight after the 41.5 kilometre time trial from Arc-et-Senans to Besançon.
The time trial course is a little bit lumpy in the first part of the course with a climb before the first time check and then a flatter second section. It is a course that ought to suit both Cadel Evans and Bradley Wiggins. See here for a preview ride by Daniel Lloyd.
The weather forecast for Besançon looks reasonable with the possibility of light rain up to midday and then clearing up with some sunshine this afternoon with a high of 24˚C. The first ride will be off at 9.45 CET, so the early riders may be affected by any rain there is around but it should be dry by the time the overall contenders are off later this afternoon. Riders start according to their GC position – starting with the laterne rouge and ending up with the leader: Bradley Wiggins at 16.39. The start times are here.
The weather forecast for Besançon looks reasonable with the possibility of light rain up to midday and then clearing up with some sunshine this afternoon with a high of 24˚C. The first ride will be off at 9.45 CET, so the early riders may be affected by any rain there is around but it should be dry by the time the overall contenders are off later this afternoon. Riders start according to their GC position – starting with the laterne rouge and ending up with the leader: Bradley Wiggins at 16.39. The start times are here.
The last time trial showdown between many of the riders was at the Dauphine is early June. There Wiggins had a dominant win. See results here – click stage standing. Over 53.5 kilometres he beat Cadel Evans by 1.43, Nibali (3.30), Denis Menchov (3.12) and Jurgen Van den Broeck (2.12). Today's trial is shorter and the situation is different but it will be a surprise if Wiggins doesn't put time into all his rivals, although Evans will clearly fight all the way.
Here is one prediction of how it will go.
Update@9.55BST
The first man off this morning, Brice Feillu, has already finished with a time of 57.33 for the 41.5K course. Although quite fast for a lumpy 25 mile time trial, expect the winner's time to be quite a bit fast than this. Will this be Fabian Cancellara, Bradley Wiggins or? Tony Martin would normally be a favourite but he has been riding with a broken wrist since the first stage, which may well affect his performance.
Update@10.10 BST
Gustav Larsson has just made Feillu's time look silly – coming in at 54.19 some 3.14 faster than Feillu. Larsson is the current Swedish national time trial champion.
Update@9.55BST
The first man off this morning, Brice Feillu, has already finished with a time of 57.33 for the 41.5K course. Although quite fast for a lumpy 25 mile time trial, expect the winner's time to be quite a bit fast than this. Will this be Fabian Cancellara, Bradley Wiggins or? Tony Martin would normally be a favourite but he has been riding with a broken wrist since the first stage, which may well affect his performance.
Update@10.10 BST
Gustav Larsson has just made Feillu's time look silly – coming in at 54.19 some 3.14 faster than Feillu. Larsson is the current Swedish national time trial champion.
3 comments:
Gustav Larsson is not Swiss, he is Swedish ;-)
And may he win, go gustav !!
Apologies you are quite right of course. Amended.
Would be surprised to see Larsson win. At the first time check Westra has gone a second faster but there is still a way for him to go...
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