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

mcsqueak says:

Jul 22 2011 at 10:12 pm

Meh!

(ps way to go Cyclops!)

VSP PICKS:

1. Fabio
2. Cadel
3. Millar
4. A. Schleck
5. Steakmouth
pakrat says:

Jul 22 2011 at 10:14 pm

@Leroy
I'm not sure tragic is how I would describe it, but yes my heart is with Andy for the win, which by the way only went that way after stage 18.

Not any fan of Huevo, but he did lay down some rocket fueled V on occasion. Just sayin.
scaler911 says:

Jul 22 2011 at 10:19 pm

While actually watching a TT is like waiting for grass to grow, I'll be up early, jacked up on coffee, waiting for cuddles to bring home the fluffy lion. God knows he could use a bit of comfort. 'Sides, I like the folk from down under.

VSP PICKS:

1. can accelerate
2. cuddles
3. mmiillarr
4. bertie
5. martini
pakrat says:

Jul 22 2011 at 10:20 pm

Anyone have the start times for the final guys?
Oli says:

Jul 22 2011 at 10:25 pm

@Leroy
I'm not "hating on Andy" at all. I thought his raid was epic and magnificent and worthy of a Tour winner. But Evans two stages in a row was the guy doing the bulk of the work chasing Shleck then Contador. Also when a rider is isolated in a group and facing two, three or four riders who are surging and attacking it is smart riding to mark them - did you notice how he would drive hard near the end of each stage when he knew he could hold it? He might not be as exciting as those guys but to say he just sucked wheels is just plain ignorant.

By the way, I'm no Aussie. That's just uncalled for.

VSP PICKS:

1. Evans
2. Martin
3. Cancellara
4. Millar
eightzero says:

Jul 22 2011 at 10:26 pm

'clops 'clops clops! Good on you, mate!

And I'm just gonna say it here once. Yes, I know there is a thing called the Tour of Utah. I will care about it *after* le tour, so just shut the hell up about it for now. Really? With it all on the line on the Galibier, le Alpe and now this ITT for all the marbles, you somehow thing something going on in Utah is really interesting? BTFO dudes. Call me next week.
Oli says:

Jul 22 2011 at 10:31 pm

@Oli
Also, it's hard to know how Evans might have handled the climbs if he hadn't been forced onto the defensive by the attacks of others or his unfortunately timed mechanical - it's quite possible he would have played more of an aggressive role, although I'm aware history doesn't give too much weight to that scenario, although it's not like he's never attacked in races before.

VSP PICKS:

1. Evans
2. Martin
3. Cancellara
4. Millar
Oli says:

Jul 22 2011 at 10:32 pm

That was supposed to be @Leroy.

VSP PICKS:

1. Evans
2. Martin
3. Cancellara
4. Millar
pakrat says:

Jul 22 2011 at 10:40 pm

On second thought.

VSP PICKS:

1. Faboo
2. Millar
3. Levi
4. Evans
5. Martin
redranger says:

Jul 22 2011 at 10:56 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. Faboo
2. Millar
3. Martin
4. Porte
5. Tjvg