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Tour de France Stage 13 Review and Highlights – Albi, Individual time trial (54km)

By VeloGuy on July 21st, 2007

I, like most of us watching the 2007 version of the Tour de France completely underestimated the ITT (individual time trial) skills of Michael Rasmussen. Rasmussen has never been known as a great time trialer, but today he proved that he deserves to be in yellow. Instead of cracking under the weight of ongoing doping allegations and questionable time-trialing abilities, the beleaguered Rabobank leader had the ride of his life on Saturday, ceding only 2:55 to stage winner Alexander Vinokourov during the 54km race against the clock in and around Albi. Rasmussen, the subject of suspicion due to revelations over four missed random doping tests in the past two years, finished a solid 11th in the time trial, extending his run atop the overall standings. He’ll head into the Pyrénées with a one-minute advantage over new runner-up Cadel Evans (Predictor-Lotto). Discovery Channel’s young Spaniard Alberto Contador was seventh on the stage, which moved him to third overall, 2:31 behind Rasmussen. “I did my best time trial ever,” said Rasmussen, admitting he had benefited from the course drying out after a spell of early rain. “When I saw [Alejandro] Valverde up ahead of me it gave me an even bigger boost, as well as starting with the yellow jersey. For the first time in my life I really gave it everything in the time trial.”

Vinokourov was the day’s other big winner. After crashing hard on stage 5 nine days ago, then struggling badly during three days in the Alps, the Astana team leader blitzed the 166-rider field, posting a 1:06:34 winning time to take his fourth career Tour stage win. The result launched the 33-year-old pre-race favorite from 19th to ninth overall, 5:10 behind Rasmussen with seven stages to go.

“I suffered through a hard week. I really suffered,” said Vinokourov. “But the Tour is long. Today was important to try to regain some ground in the GC. My legs have been back for the past two days. This win gives me great motivation. The Tour isn’t over. I lost a lot of time in the Alps. We’ll see what the tactics are [Sunday in the Pyrénées]. What I can say now is that I will attack.”

In the end, this race is still wide open, and anyone in the top seven can take it. This year the race will be decided in the Pyrénées. Vino, Rasmussen, Leipheimer, Contador, Kloden, Evans, these are the guys who will be putting on one hell of a race in the Pyrénées. I for one can mot wait, bring on the mountains.

Vino Wins The ITT by Steephill
Results
1 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana 1.06.34 (48.661 km/h)
2 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor – Lotto 1.14
3 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 1.39
4 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana 1.44
5 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Cofidis – Le Crédit par Téléphone 2.14
6 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 2.16
7 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 2.18
8 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis – Le Crédit par Téléphone 2.38
9 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 2.39
10 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi 2.42
FULL RESULTS and LIVE TEXT COVERAGE by Cycling news