Categories: Velominati Super Prestige

Velominati Super Prestige: Le Tour de France, Stage 20

Reach for your recovery drink of choice, grab a little massage if you can, load up on carbs tonight, and get ready for the ultimate showdown for final Tour glory tomorrow to be contested in 41 kilometers contra la montre. I’m talking about the fans, not the riders, obviously. Because these last two days have nearly killed us.

This is anyone’s time trial. At 41km, it’s just long enough for Cadel to pull one out, and it’s just short and hilly enough for Andy to retain enough of his lead. Sure, Evans will certainly beat the Grimplette, but by how much? In last year’s final ITT, Andy almost pulled out the upset, until the wind kicked up and the youngster’s sit up and beg TT position had him more sail that sailor. It’s hilly enough to give the climbers a chance of staying in it, and the long descent to the finish will play to the fastmen against the clock.

Will his new Maillot Juane play Redbull to Andy and give him wings? Or will the scent of Yellow drag the Cadelamonster to his prize? Both Andy and Cadel know what it’s like to stand on the second step of the podium. Neither wants to stand there again. And both riders are different men than they were the last time it happened. Both have been hardened by the bitter taste of defeat that lingers long on the tongue.

I, for one, can hardly take it any more. Vive le Tour.

You know the drill, get your picks in by 5am Pacific tomorrow morning. Good luck.

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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View Comments

Leroy says:

Jul 22 2011 at 6:05 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. Cancellara
2. Martin
3. Contador
4. Van Garderen
5. Evans
RedRanger says:

Jul 22 2011 at 6:08 pm

@brett

Oh I can feel a horrible sense of bitter disappointment coming on... Pencilneck Schleck is gonna get some special training plans from Dr F I think.
And if that happens; MOST. UNDESERVING. WINNER. EVER.
VSP PICKS:
1. Millar
2. Fabs
3. Martin
4. Elepehant Balls
5. Cont

Such a hater.
paolo says:

Jul 22 2011 at 6:08 pm

@Minion

@brett

Oh I can feel a horrible sense of bitter disappointment coming on... Pencilneck Schleck is gonna get some special training plans from Dr F I think.And if that happens; MOST. UNDESERVING. WINNER. EVER.

What do you call a one eyed Australian?
Blind.
Who's even left in this race? Is Eggtimer? I get the feeling Millar is just too English to remember what winning is, if Cancellara wins this TT then he's incomprehensibly good, but too big to win on the road today. A light strong TTer basically means Cadel, Bert and Levi, unless the Schlecks have whinged us into looking the other way while they're doing their secret special TT training. Is Gilbert still riding?

Millar is a Scot isn't he?

A. Schlecks whinging about the descent was tactical brilliance. I suspect he has been secretly TT'ing like a demon in training.
Leroy says:

Jul 22 2011 at 6:12 pm

@brett

Oh I can feel a horrible sense of bitter disappointment coming on... Pencilneck Schleck is gonna get some special training plans from Dr F I think.
And if that happens; MOST. UNDESERVING. WINNER. EVER.

That's just crazy talk... that move Andy pulled yesterday was the stuff of legends and the way he matched everyone on the road today was awesome. Definately deserving... much moreso than Cadel in any case! What was up with the wheelsucking Aussies today? Apart from chasing Andy yesterday, he's been the embodiment of the COTHO Tour de France text book. In my eyes, Andy's long solo yesterday was the best moment the Tour's seen in decades and Cadel's refusal to help chase today was almost as pathetic as Thor being afraid to take Fabian to the front at PR. Andy's definitely the most deserving out of anyone in this years edition!

VSP PICKS:

1. Cancellara
2. Martin
3. Contador
4. Van Garderen
5. Evans
earnest says:

Jul 22 2011 at 6:20 pm

Millar just because I like him so much. Evans rides his legs off for the yellow.

VSP PICKS:

1. D. Millar
2. F. Cancellara
3. T. Martin
4. C. Evans
5. A. Contador
Collin says:

Jul 22 2011 at 6:22 pm

Faboo is Faboo. I'll put DZ where he would have finished. Millar brings it home. Martin just doesn't have the guns this year. Cuddles monsters through and Levi snags something. I've put him in this whole race, might as well stick with tradition.

VSP PICKS:

1. Faboo
2. Dave Zabriskie
3. Millarcopter
4. Cuddles
5. Levi
mouse says:

Jul 22 2011 at 6:23 pm

@Leroy
WTF?
Have you no idea about tactical nous?
Why would Evans chase anyone? The only people he had to mark were the Schlecks.
That's stage racing. The prize is the MJ in Paris.
To call Cuddles a wheelsucker is just plain wrong.
Erik says:

Jul 22 2011 at 6:33 pm

I haven't really got predictions. I have only the same wide eyed wonder I had when I was a kid watching Hinault/Lemond fight it out.

This will be fun.

VSP PICKS:

1. Millar
2. Cancellara
3. Evans
4. Contador
5. Leipheimer
Velomihott says:

Jul 22 2011 at 6:34 pm

Cadelephant will do the tt. of his life and pull on the yellow! I will probably nearly pee myself with nervous excitement!

VSP PICKS:

1. Motorcus
2. Cadelephant
3. Martin
4. Clenbutador
5. Eggtimer
Erik says:

Jul 22 2011 at 6:38 pm

Rearranged my picks already. Lame.

VSP PICKS:

1. Millar
2. Martin
3. Evans
4. Contador
5. Cancellara