In reality we already knew that Fabian Cancellara was the best Time Triallist in the world, however in stage 1 of the Tour de France he laid any argument to the contrary to rest with an absolute slaughter of the Monaco Course - and his opposition. The two time world TT champ and Beijing Olympic gold medalist unleashed the beast and the huge Swiss finished 18 seconds ahead of second placed Alberto Contador in a time of 19.32 for the 15.5km course. This is the 3rd time Cancellara has taken the opening stage of a Tour (2004/07) and his fourth stage overall.
Continuing his early season TT form, Contador rode a brilliant race, he was fastest through the first half of the course (fastest to the top of the climb means he wears polka dots tomorrow) and was one of 4 Astana men in the top 10. They are going to be dominant. Aussie Cadel Evans was 5th and Lance Armstong showed he has not lost it, he was 10th, just 40 seconds behind Cancellara and 22 seconds off Contador. I thought Denis Menchov would have been disapointed, he was passed by Cancellara and was 1 min 31 behind, he rode much better TT races in the Giro and should have gone better, same can be said for Mick Rogers who as a 3 time world TT champ and one who is usually only 5-10 seconds slower than Cancellara should have been closer. I was super impressed again with Kreuziger, he was 9th. The usual suspects in Leipheimer, Kloden & Wiggins were there with young Martin riding well and Nibali showing he will be giving his team mate a bit of opposition for the lead rider of Liquigas.
But taking nothing away from the big man, Fabian was awesome - again.
Results
1 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank 19:32
2 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana +00:18
3 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream 00:19
4 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 00:22
5 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto 00:23
6 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana 00:30
7 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas 00:32
8 Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC 00:33
9 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas 00:37
10 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana 00:40
others of note
18 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 01:00
21 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Cervelo Test Team 01:06
27 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia - HTC 01:13
53 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 01:31
67 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 01:36
Continuing his early season TT form, Contador rode a brilliant race, he was fastest through the first half of the course (fastest to the top of the climb means he wears polka dots tomorrow) and was one of 4 Astana men in the top 10. They are going to be dominant. Aussie Cadel Evans was 5th and Lance Armstong showed he has not lost it, he was 10th, just 40 seconds behind Cancellara and 22 seconds off Contador. I thought Denis Menchov would have been disapointed, he was passed by Cancellara and was 1 min 31 behind, he rode much better TT races in the Giro and should have gone better, same can be said for Mick Rogers who as a 3 time world TT champ and one who is usually only 5-10 seconds slower than Cancellara should have been closer. I was super impressed again with Kreuziger, he was 9th. The usual suspects in Leipheimer, Kloden & Wiggins were there with young Martin riding well and Nibali showing he will be giving his team mate a bit of opposition for the lead rider of Liquigas.
But taking nothing away from the big man, Fabian was awesome - again.
Results
1 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank 19:32
2 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana +00:18
3 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream 00:19
4 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 00:22
5 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto 00:23
6 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana 00:30
7 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas 00:32
8 Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC 00:33
9 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas 00:37
10 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana 00:40
others of note
18 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 01:00
21 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Cervelo Test Team 01:06
27 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia - HTC 01:13
53 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 01:31
67 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 01:36
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