Cycling Safari

Stage 19: Le Creusot to Montceau les Mines, 57 km / 35 mi

Individual Time Trial

- by Cathy Mehl

The Individual Time Trial is also known as the Race of Truth, and with the top three GC standings resting only 30 seconds apart, that description never rang more true than in today’s stage. Needing to gain back time to wear the final yellow jersey into Paris, Floyd Landis would need to ride a perfect time trial and put time into Oscar Pereiro and Carlos Sastre in order to wear the Maillot Jaune on the only day that counts—the last day of the Tour de France.

Under very hot and humid conditions the 141 cyclists headed out on a tricky course that wound through narrow back roads and city streets between two industrial cities. A hilly course with many changes in direction, there was nothing easy about today’s ride.

The early high mark was set by Serguei Gonchar as he blazed the course with a time of 1.07.45, more than three minutes ahead of Sebastian Lang, Dave Zabriskie, and Discovery Channel’s Viatcheslav “Eki” Ekimov . These best times held throughout the day until the final GC contenders crossed the line.

Landis lined up in the start house and was on course for yellow ahead of Sastre and Pereiro. Quickly accelerating and getting into the “Praying Landis” position, he was on his way three and six minutes ahead of the others. Soon enough Sastre and Pereiro rolled down the ramp and the top GC men were all on course. With so few seconds separating many of the top positions, it was sure to be a hotly contested time trial.

Landis went through the first time check in first place, one second ahead of Gonchar but gaining time over Sastre and Pereiro. Pereiro was not known for his time trialing abilities, but feeling the power of the yellow jersey, he continued to fight to retain his lead. At the second time check Landis was behind Gonchar by twenty-six seconds, and was in virtual yellow at that point, as Sastre and Pereiro continued to fade as the distance wore on. Coming into the third time check it became clear Landis would not win the stage, but he would win the Tour! No one would beat Gonchar on this day, as he took his second time trial victory in this year’s Tour.

Crossing the line with a faint smile playing on his lips, Landis took third place on the stage behind Gonchar and Andreas Kloden, but stole the big prize of the Maillot Jaune in the final stage. Left for dead on the second day in the Alps, Landis showed true grit and determination to make his Tour dreams come true.

Kloden put in a stellar ride to propel himself onto the third step of the final podium, jumping over Sastre who had a hard time racing against the clock today. Meanwhile Pereiro gave it his all to stay on the podium and did just that as he battled to the end and took second place overall. Provided nothing disastrous happens on tomorrow’s ceremonial ride into Paris, the final podium will have a new American champion standing on the top step, as Floyd Landis will wave to the crowds on the Champs-Elysees as the winner of the 93rd Tour de France.

Also up for final grabs today was the White Jersey for Best Young Rider. With Marcus Fothen (Gerolsteiner) just losing the jersey to Damiano Cunego (Lampre) in the last few days, no one expected a good TT from the Italian star. However, Cunego surprised many and put in great performance and will ride in the jersey all the way to Paris tomorrow.

* Phonak rider Robert Hunter finished outside the time limit today. Will race organizers allow him to ride with his winning teammate on the final stage into Paris?

* Le Creusot is an industrial city that is spread out and hilly. It is also has the second largest student population in Burgundy and is known for its cultural, artistic and sporting centers.

* Montceau les Mines is only an hour from Paris and is known as a youthful city that holds many cultural and sporting events throughout the year. It has a beautiful pleasure harbor and many French and tourists bring their boats to this area for recreation.