Armstrong's final victory, first of this Tour, and a great conclusion to his career. It looked like it would be a close one at the first check, with Basso in front of Armstrong and Ullrich, but by the next check there was no doubt: Armstrong was going to win this one and he would get the stage victory he needed to legitimize his yellow jersey. Armstrong will win this tour by 4:40, not his biggest margin, but a huge margin nevertheless.
Today's victory by Armstrong was all about preparation. While all the other riders were struggling through the technical course with their aerodynamic, rear disc wheels, Armstrong was nimbly picking apart the turns with a much more maneuverable three-spoke rear wheel. The equipment choice seemed to hurt Basso, who looked hesitant on the technical second leg of the course, dropping from seven seconds up in the first time check to 34 seconds behind Ullrich through the second check.
Top 8 finishers (four Americans!) and their gear choices: Hincapie, Evans, Landis, Basso, Julich, Vinokourov, Ullrich, Armstrong
The course was treacherous enough to cause 3rd-now-7th place Rasmussen to disintegrate, crashing twice and switching bikes 4+ times. Rasmussen was the real disaster story of this stage, and I can't ever recall seeing a worse performance by a rider in an individual time trial. Rasmussen wasn't going to hold 3rd place against Ullrich, but his collapse pushed him out of the top five overall. People will remember this stage for both it's great and horrible performances: Armstrong's dominating farewell and Rasmussen's catastrophe.
The Tour may be all but over for Armstrong, but some of the other GC contenders will duke it out tomorrow. Leipheimer broke into the top 5, but Vino had a great performance today and is now only 2 seconds behind him. It should make some of the intermediate sprints more interesting.
- Stage 20 Summary (VeloNews)
- Stage 20 Results (CyclingNews)
Stage Log
Prediction: I'd be a fool not to pick Armstrong. We should see Armstrong, Basso, and Ullrich on the podium after today's results, as Ullrich should be able to put two minutes on Rasmussen to switch spots.
This is Lance's last stand. Tomorrow there will be champagne on the road. This is the last time we will see Armstrong really, really ride.
This is going to be a rough little time trial. Should be fun. 55.5k, 34 miles.
Too bad there's no DZ to set a good opening time.
Botero lost control of his bike through a corner though he stayed upright. That will cost him a good time.
Still on schedule for the fastest ever Tour (approx 41.6km/hr). I believe the fastest was previous ~40.5/km set by Armstrong.
Savoldelli is starting the course. Azevedo is also on the road in front of him.
Lang has the fastest time so far, though Karpets is going to try and take it from him.
Savoldelli had a bit of trouble through the roundabout.
Bobby Julich is starting the course.
Now Hincapie is on the starting ramp.
Karpets has now set the fastest time of 1:14:51
Popo's on the road. He's got a strong lead in the young riders' competition.
Bobby J has set the fastest time check at 17km
Landis has started.
Hincapie has the second best time check at 17km
CheChu has finished with the 13th best time so far, but that will certainly fall
Ullrich is starting, Rasmussen is right behind him
Now Basso is in the start house
Rasmussen just crashed in the roundabout. This is a really technical course. It's the same roundabout that juked Savoldelli a bit.
Bobby J just set best time by 46 seconds at 35km
At last Armstrong is starting, last to start on the day
And here we are, Armstrong's last big performance of his career.
Ullrich in only 1:27 behind Rasmussen in the overall now
Landis has the second fastest time at 17k, 5 secs behind Bobby J. It's Americans all the way setting the fastest times (Bobby J/Landis/Hincapie)
Bobby set the fastest time at the 40k check by 30 seconds over Sastre
Ullrich is now within 1:08 of taking third from Rasmussen
Armstrong is racing with a normal backwheel. It looks like the disc wheels are causing a lot of mishaps today.
Hincapie is second through the 40k check
Vino is now setting the fastest time at the 17k check, Evans is 11 seconds behind him, and Julich 1 second behind that. Looks like Vino is the rider the beat so far.
Sastre fell off his pace and finished second, so Karpets still has the fastest time on the day.
Ullrich is now within 55 seconds of third place overall
Ullrich has the fastest time at 17k, 12 seconds faster than Vino. Still waiting for Basso and Armstrong's first check. Ullrich is only 27 seconds behind Rasmussen overall.
Bobby J is coming in, well in first place so far. 1:13:20, a minute and a half faster than Karpet's time of 1:14:51
Ullrich is 11 seconds out of third place overall. Too bad for Rasmussen.
Basso just went through 17 seconds faster than Ullrich at 17k. He's back on his Giro di Italia form. Armstrong's time check should be coming very soon.
5 seconds left for Ullrich to pull himself into third.
Armstrong isn't going to beat Basso's check. Armstrong is 7 seconds slower than Basso, 10 seconds faster than Ullrich.
Hincapie is in with the second fastest time, but almost a minute slower than Bobby J.
Ullrich is now is third place overall. bye-bye Rasmussen
Basso just went past Rasmussen, who was having issues with his back tire. Rasmussen is now on his third bike or something. He better get things in order or he's going to lose fourth place.
Rasmussen is now getting yet another bike, perhaps the original bike with a new tire.
Landis is second over the 40k top-of-the-climb check
Vino is 28 seconds faster than Julich over the 40k top-of-the-climb check
Popo is coming in with the 4th best time, good enough to hold onto the white jersey.
Rasmussen is having the worst time trial I have ever seen, crashing on the descent after going into a ditch over his handlebars. That makes two crashes and about four bike changes.
Armstrong looks a lot better in the technical part of the course. Basso was much more tentative and cautious with his disc wheel bike. Looks like Armstrong made a great equipment choice with the normal rear tire.
Basso has fallen 34 seconds behind Ullrich through the next check.
Armstrong has set the fastest time through the 35k check, 18 seconds faster than Ullrich!
Ullrich is fastest over the top-of-the-climb check, 37 seconds faster than Vino
Armstrong is blowing past Rasmussen, best time trial vs. worst time trial ever
Vino coming in: best time 1:13:02, 17 seconds faster than Bobby J
Basso is third best over the top of the climb
Evans is coming in at 1:13:52, 4th best. Best perfrormance by an Australian in a Tour ever
Armstrong has blow through the top-of-the-climb check, 32 seconds faster than Ullrich
Leipheimer is in at 1:14:59, is it fast enough for top 5? maybe with the way Rasmussen is falling apart
Vino has best time at 1:13:02, Julich 1:13:19, Landis 1:13:48, Evans 1:13:52
Ullrich is coming in 1:12:09, way in front for first place. Now it's just Basso and Armstrong left
Armstrong is way in front on the final check, he's got this one in the bag.
Basso is in 5th at 1:13:40, losing a lot of ground from his earlier checks
Armstrong wins with a time of 1:11:46, the only rider to finish under 1:12:00
Ullrich rode well enough for third, but not enough for the stage win:
