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2014 Tour de France July 26, Stage 20: Bergerac - Périgueux (ITT) 54km

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Who will win stage 20?

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    Votes: 0 0.0%
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J

Jancouver

Mar 14, 2009
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2014 Tour de France July 26, Stage 20: Bergerac - Périgueux (ITT) 54km

Stage details

Distance: 54km

Category: Individual Time Tal

Highest point: 224m

This year, the Tour organisers incorporated only one individual time trial into the race – the first time that's happened since the 1950s. They're hoping that the time gaps created over the preceding three weeks across three mountain ranges and undulating stages will be small enough to make the 54km time trial crucial to the outcome of the final stage in Paris.

The localtion of this stage, colloquially dubbed 'Dordognshire' thanks to the large population of ex-pat Brits living in the region, should mean that Union flags are a regular feature along the route.

The parcours is describedby the ASO as more tuned to riders in great form than the true TT specialists. The route starts in flat farmland before turning into hillier terrain closer to
Périgueux.

Weather, or rather temperature, could be a factor. The last time a TT was run between these two towns – in 1994 – the mercury rose to 30°C in dead still conditions.
stage_20_profile_670.jpg
 
sir fly

sir fly

Feb 24, 2014
15,228
3,121
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Instead about the winner, the poll should have been about the margin in absence of the specialists.
Hopefully, Nibali will go all out and give us some material for speculations.
One Frenchman should be able to secure a place on the final podium, but I'm not sure the both will be.
 
S

Sasquatch

Sep 16, 2009
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SafeBet said:
Panzer and it's not gonna be close.
Dumoulin best of the rest.
I'm expecting Nibali to take it relatively easy.

Very interesting battle for the podium, but I really have no clue on who will win it.
Click to expand...

Nah, I think Nibali will try and go hard and finish things off with a bang. If he tries, he is a legit shot to take it if Martin is not feeling that good after 3 weeks. We know that Nibali is in the best shape.
 
xanadu

xanadu

Jun 19, 2013
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Well there is no doubting that Nibali is in the form of his life and is still going strong and will have the benefit of going last. Martin on the other hand is a proven act at the TT discipline but has been active in several breakaways and may be tired. For me Nibali might just have the edge.
 
pigoonse

pigoonse

Apr 16, 2014
533
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It all depends...hard to vote so soon. I'll wait to see what the weather is and the stage is well underway to vote :D
 
Tonton

Tonton

May 17, 2013
7,483
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Panzer!

In the top 6, Nibali, at 30 sec TJVG, 20 sec further Peraud, hopefully Pinot is fresher than Piti and hangs on, both more or less 4 minutes behind Nibali. Then Bardet, another minute and a half behind.

Thanks to the advantage gained at Hautacam, both Pinot and JCP will start after Piti and know his splits. It is a huge advantage and may turn out to be what will cost Piti a podium finish.
 
Tonton

Tonton

May 17, 2013
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Rollthedice said:
Nibali after today's stage talking about the ITT:

"I'll honour the yellow jersey, the Tour de France and my team by riding as a leader."

It won't be easy for Tony.
Click to expand...

Yes, it will be easy for Tony I think. But Nibali will go all out. He wants to shut his detractors up. Hats off to him. He deserves to win this TdF.
 
SeriousSam

SeriousSam

Aug 31, 2012
7,550
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xanadu said:
Well there is no doubting that Nibali is in the form of his life and is still going strong and will have the benefit of going last. Martin on the other hand is a proven act at the TT discipline but has been active in several breakaways and may be tired. For me Nibali might just have the edge.
Click to expand...

As opposed to Nibali who did an active recovery mountain time trial up the Hautacam. :p
 
T

The Barb

Apr 14, 2009
1,702
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For mine the most interesting thing about the stage is the podium battle Pinot vs Valverde (I think Peraud is sure to be there with Nibali). Conventional wisdom says Valverde should have no difficulty pegging back the 15 second deficit, but I have a feeling Pinot will do better than expected.

It is difficult to assess because Valverde is so inconsistent and Pinot hasn't ridden many meaningful time trials. The time trial at last year's Tour is completely irrelevant because it was flat and Pinot was already half an hour off the lead while Valverde was second in the GC and highly motivated.

Here are some of Pinot's time trial results from the last 12 months when he was motivated by a competing for a high(ish) position on GC:

2013 Vuelta - 38km course, more ascending than this one but it was all in one climb. Pinot 15th at 2:32 behind Cancellara (Valverde beat Pinot by 40 seconds but did puncture).

2014 Bayern Rundfahrt - 25 km, largely flat. Pinot 24th at 1:19 behind Geraint Thomas.

2014 Vuelta al Pais Vasco - 26km, hilly. Pinot 10th at 1:25 behind Tony Martin. Valverde was 8th at 1:02.

2014 Tour of Romandie - 19km, hilly. Pinot 9th at 35 seconds behind Froome.

Whether all this means anything I don't know. This time trial is almost double the length and comes at the end of a three week race (the Vuelta time trial was stage 11). I don't think the distance will disadvantage Pinot and his form is strong. I think he'll surprise a few people and hold off Valverde.
 
Tonton

Tonton

May 17, 2013
7,483
2,248
20,680
The Barb said:
For mine the most interesting thing about the stage is the podium battle Pinot vs Valverde (I think Peraud is sure to be there with Nibali). Conventional wisdom says Valverde should have no difficulty pegging back the 15 second deficit, but I have a feeling Pinot will do better than expected.

It is difficult to assess because Valverde is so inconsistent and Pinot hasn't ridden many meaningful time trials. The time trial at last year's Tour is completely irrelevant because it was flat and Pinot was already half an hour off the lead while Valverde was second in the GC and highly motivated.

Here are some of Pinot's time trial results from the last 12 months when he was motivated by a competing for a high(ish) position on GC:

2013 Vuelta - 38km course, more ascending than this one but it was all in one climb. Pinot 15th at 2:32 behind Cancellara (Valverde beat Pinot by 40 seconds but did puncture).

2014 Bayern Rundfahrt - 25 km, largely flat. Pinot 24th at 1:19 behind Geraint Thomas.

2014 Vuelta al Pais Vasco - 26km, hilly. Pinot 10th at 1:25 behind Tony Martin. Valverde was 8th at 1:02.

2014 Tour of Romandie - 19km, hilly. Pinot 9th at 35 seconds behind Froome.

Whether all this means anything I don't know. This time trial is almost double the length and comes at the end of a three week race (the Vuelta time trial was stage 11). I don't think the distance will disadvantage Pinot and his form is strong. I think he'll surprise a few people and hold off Valverde.
Click to expand...

I hope you are right. Also, Pinot will start AFTER Valverde. Huge advantage. And Pinot looks fresher.
 
VeloHuman

VeloHuman

Jun 25, 2013
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Starting after people is such a massive, underrated advantage. So many GC guys who aren't known as time trialing talents have put in a surprising top result in a time trial because they got to go at the end of the day and gauge their efforts against the specialists.
 
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