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.
Can’t help but root for Cadel today. Won’t mind seeing Andy win if he does, but watching Cadel put in all of that amazing work the last week really won me over.
Cuddles now 27 seconds off MJ!!
Frank 34 seconds behind Cuddles
YEEEAHHH!!!!!
someone needs to teach angry stomach how to tuck up and go downhill
Andy slower at the 1st check than Frank!!!
Andy slower than Frank?
And go Cadel.
!!
And what is going on with Evans’ interviews? I know he has been riding like a madman, but his press agent needs to let him catch his breath before he speaks. His voice is wild, as is his huffing for air. He seems deranged!
This is going to be close, but not looking good for Andy.
hmm.. trying to see on the letour.fr or cyclingnews sites to see if there is any splits from Cadiesel’s ITT in the dauphine, but no luck..
Doesn’t seem to matter atm, taking chunks of time out of the Swivelnecks..
Wonder if Clembutador will put enough time into Frank to podium..
To quote or friend over at BRR: “give it some welly” cuddles.
3 2 1 got him
Australia, Fuck Yeah…mate!
Cadel in Virtual Yello…get in there!
Fuckn’ A
Anthony Schleck? WTF Phil, get it together
In other news, Roullin seems to have kept White
Evans is wrecking this course.
Cuddles FTW!!!
@Marko
+infinity
cuddles is going to tear that TT bike apart from sheer gun power.
Damn, Big George going to be on yet another Tour-winning squad.
Not bad for BMC either, maybe we’ll see a few more on the road instead of all those Treks…
Fact just in, bum chin makes cuddles more aero
@Blah
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhmjnYKlVnM
Frank’s already lost 1.43 to Cuddles at the 2nd check
Like a Cadel in the wind…
Look at Cadel! Such a fkn wheelsucker…
Bertie turning himself inside out coming up the finishing straight!
You know, Andy would be flying down the course if he hadn’t picked out an all yellow skin suit.
Wow, Clentador crushed it – second fastest right now…
Advance, Australia fair!
Did I just see Cadel jump his TT bike? Cool.
Cadel’s going to win the time trial if he can keep this pace up – I think he will…
You know what the problem is with the Schlecks? No V in their names. Cadelephant has a V in his name. Nuff said.
get ur umbrella’s ready.. there will be tears at the presentation! :D
Go Son!!
@scaler911
Hehehe. Nice.
Well, they TT better than Rasmussen.
Cuddles is just kickin ass! If you lose the Tour 2years in a row on the TT, do you think there’s something you might want to work on?
We may not have seen a ton of panache from Cuddles but we’ve seen a fuckton of grinta and that’s what wins stage races.
@frank
+1
I think there is some type of strange quantum entanglement between the Swivelnecks. Their time gaps are the same. They both can’t ride their bikes downhill. They both swivel. They might be the same rider in some highly unlikely way.
Great ride for Voeckler again!
@Erik
That one TdF TT is worth watching with the Benny Hill theme music playing. Good fun, if not good clean fun.
Fucking legend
@frank
+1
YEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!
*cough*
I mean; well done old chap. Jolly good show.
Q. What is the second letter of this year’s TdF winner’s surname?
@Collin
Invisible tandem?
Amazing that an Aussie will win & he’s not a manly bloke, just a wee fella with the dimple chin & that high voice…
Will the blokes in their Canterbury shorts and Blundastone boots still cheer him on?
Woot.
@harminator
Doh! Frank beat me to it.
@mouse
+1
@Collin
Too many baths together as kids
Cadel: courage and class.
Congratulations to everyone in Australia, New Auzeland, and Ausmania.