Wiggins Moves up in Annecy
Stage 18, Annecy- Annecy (40.5km) | Results
Bradley Wiggins on his way to climbing the overall table in the Time Trial. BAS CZERWINSKI/AP/Press Association Images
This was the day that three time Olympic Gold medallist Bradley Wiggins and his team were looking forward too -- the Time Trial, the race of truth. For two weeks, 'Wiggo' has been astounding the world by showing them his climbing skills and ability to challenge for the overall in the biggest bike race in the World. No surprise to those that know him however as Bradley has always excelled at things that float his boat and being the first British rider to finish on the podium in the Tour de France was just the right type of challenge for the track turned road star.
For sure, whatever the outcome of this year's Tour de France, his career will never be the same now that he has shown the ability to compete at an event where everyone lifts themselves to a new level just as they do at the Olympics. In the time trial, it wasn't so much about whether Brad would do a good time trial but whether he could come back from the beating he took at the hands of the Schleck brothers in the mountains and hand out a beating of his own. Time trials at this point in a stage race are always an unknown. For some riders it’s an easy day to get through on the trek to Paris whilst for others, a chance of a stage victory. For Brad, the Time Trial was the chance to tackle the Schlecks in his territory.
The scene for this battle was a 40 kilometre (25 miles) race against the watch (Time Trial) around the picturesque lake of Annecy in the Savoie region of France. Far from flat, the route for the time trial had a category 3 climb after 28.5 kilometres and there were quite a few surprises early on as favourites such as World Time Trial Champion Bert Grabsch failed to grab the lead and even the time trialling legend that is Fabian Cancellara was unable to set the world on fire although he did go to the top of the leaderboard when he finished after an awesome final section off the mountain.
A rider with many a rainbow jersey from the Time Trial, Aussie Michael Rogers too was unable to show his true capability at the end of a tough stage race which has been especially tough on him. But it was 'Wiggo' the Brits were waiting for. Brad had many experienced teammates racing the course before him and few more experienced than Dave Millar who was lying in third place (finishing 5th at the end) when he arrived on the finish line.
Speaking on Eurosport, David Millar had this to say “It is a beautiful time trial. Very fast on the flat sections where you are always above 50 (kph an hour) but the climb is really hard. It’s a 4k climb and the hardest section is the last 500 metres and that is where the difference will be made.” On whether there was any feedback he could give Brad before he rode, Millar replied “there is not much advice I can give Bradley. He’s one of the best in the world. We can advise him of the conditions and he’ll know how to ride it.”
On whether Brad can recover any time on the Schlecks, Millar told Eurosport “Normally, he can make a big difference. Yesterday was the area for Schleck, today is the area for Brad. They took time on him yesterday but he’ll take a lot of time on them today. I think he’ll find himself back in front of them today. My guess is he’ll gain three minutes plus on Frank and two to two and half minutes on Andy.”
Sixth from the end, around 3.30pm British time, the Londoner left the starting ramp under cloudy skies for his test on the wet and dry roads around the lake. With the elliptical chain ring and the deep section front wheel, Wiggins as ever was looking smooth and fast on the roads at Annecy but it wasn’t until he reached the first time check at 18 kilometres that we could gauge how he was comparing to the riders going for the stage win. The answer to that was he went through quickest ahead of the others going for the stage but the most important answers were how his time was comparing to those of his rivals for the podium positions in Paris.
At the first time check, he was quicker than Kloden, Armstrong, Frank Schleck, Andy Schleck whilst Contador went through 18 seconds quicker than everyone including Wiggins. At the second time check however, Wiggins had lost 10 seconds on the benchmark at that point, Mikhail Ignatiev whilst still staying ahead of Kloden, Armstrong, and the Schlecks. Contador was fastest again as he was through nearly all the time checks.
The critical one for the podium battle was the third category climb though and he went through that second fastest but the time gaps however were not as big as he needed to improve his position dramatically overall and on the run down to the finish, Wiggins dropped from second fastest to finish the time trial in 6th, just behind British teammate David Millar. Wiggins had gained time on the likes of Armstrong, Kloden and the Schlecks but not enough to move into a podium position or give himself a buffer for the stage on the Ventoux. It was though still a dam fine ride beating the likes of the aforementioned riders!
The man himself, Bradley Wiggins, told ITV4 and a throng of journalists afterwards: “There was a headwind which changed from the morning. I heard I lost 12 seconds on Contador on the descent and gained time on some of the other guys. The guys that went this morning, like Fabian and Dave there was no wind. There were two races. GC race and the race for the stage. Had the conditions remained the same for everyone, Alberto would have won and I would have finished second or third and I don’t fancy another second.”
“I felt fabulous today. I felt great. It was flowing and I had recovered well from yesterday which was my first bad day and I finished 7th so it wasn’t too bad. It’s all going to come down to the Ventoux, one effort which suits me better than having lots of climbs on the one day. Who knows what is going to happen.”
At the start of the Tour, Brad himself was talking about a top 20 or perhaps top 10 place but the fact everyone is now talking about his chances of a podium place show the great strides he has made in being the complete rider, time trialist and climber -- giving him the tools to be a Tour de France contender. That is a pretty awesome jump from the track where he made his name or even winning prologues as he has done in some well known classics of the road. The final word though has to be on Contador and his stunning ride. To take on a rider like Cancellara and beat him in the Swiss rider’s favourite event says a lot about how complete the Spanish rider is and a second Tour victory looks likely and after his performances in the mountains and the time trial, that victory appears to be well deserved.
Stage
1. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 0:48:31
2. Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank @ 03
3. Mikhail Ignatiev (Rus) Team Katusha 0:00:15
5. David Millar (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream @40
6. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream @42
9. Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana @53
16. Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana @1:29
21. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank @1:44
26. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas @2:05
35. Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank @02:34
Overall
1. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 73:15:00
2. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank @4:11
3. Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana @5.25
4. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream @5.36
5. Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana @5.38
6. Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank @5.59
7. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas @7:15
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