In the last of his video previews IG Sigma Sport's Dan Lloyd, rides the course of the Stage 19 individual time trial explaining why it is that TT specialists like Bradley Wiggins will put as much three minutes in those rider's who's forte is mainly climbing. Dan also explains why it is that after 3 weeks of hard racing some riders will go in to tomorrows race of truth riding more strongly than in the two preceding time trials.
With the final stage, for the GC contenders at least, being the usual procession into Paris, this is usually the last day for podium places to be decided although this year barring some unforeseen disaster for Team Sky the top two positions are settled only the final margins remain to be decided and it will be a surprise if Vincenzo Nibali doesn't take third place too.
The long, mainly flat parcours will see some big gaps in the times posted by the time trial specialists on the one hand, and the pure mountain goats on the other. Bradley Wiggins will be relishing today’s stage, and what’s more, the profile of yesterday’s stage means they will perhaps be fresher than if it had come straight after the high mountains - even if he did take a big turn setting Mark Cavendish up for the sprint.
Before the Tour started we said that If Bradley Wiggins started today in yellow, while it would be tempting fate to uncork the Champagne just yet, you should certainly make sure it’s chilling nicely in the fridge. That's where we are no - Champagne chilling - and barring disaster come the end of the stage we will be 24 hours away from celebrating Britain’s first ever Tour de France winner.
Geraint Thomas says: Brad is in exactly the position he would have wanted going in to today. Better still for him, the two riders I had down as stage favourites before the Tour started; Tony Martin and Fabian Cancellara aren't here. It’s pretty flat today and someone like Brad could just get that power out and with that position he has on the bike he could easily put minutes into some of the guys in the top 10.
Fantasy Cycling Tour de France Stage 19 transfer window shuts on Saturday morning at 09.35 UK time.
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road.cc's founder and first editor, nowadays to be found riding a spreadsheet. Tony's journey in cycling media started in 1997 as production editor and then deputy editor of Total Bike, acting editor of Total Mountain Bike and then seven years as editor of Cycling Plus. He launched his first cycling website - the Cycling Plus Forum at the turn of the century. In 2006 he left C+ to head up the launch team for Bike Radar which he edited until 2008, when he co-launched the multi-award winning road.cc - finally handing on the reins in 2021 to Jack Sexty. His favourite ride is his ‘commute’ - which he does most days inc weekends and he’s been cycle-commuting since 1994. His favourite bikes are titanium and have disc brakes, though he'd like to own a carbon bike one day.
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