TIMED TO PERFECTION
Tuesday 10 July / Arc-et-Senans to Besançon, 41.5km Time Trial
ROUTE/ The clock starts to tick from the second the mobile start house sends each rider down the ramp and along an undulating, twisty route that hugs meandering rivers from the southern edge of the expansive Chaux forest to Besançon.
THE CHALLENGE/ The so-called Race of Truth, quite technical in places. The aim was for Wiggins to capitalise on his time-trialling talent to put a significant chunk of time between himself and Evans and Nibali.
HOW IT UNFOLDED/ Four-time world time-trial champion Cancellara, who won the opening Prologue, laid down the early marker, but Froome eclipsed his time. ‘There are no tactics in something like today. This is by far the hardest event in cycling. You just have to go as fast as you can and turn yourself inside out to get the best time,’ he said.
As race leader, Wiggins was the last to go and he immediately began to take time out of his rivals. At the first time check, he clocked the fastest time of 21:05, which was 1:02 quicker than Evans. He maintained his electric pace through the second time check, reaching it in 39:02 and stretching out his advantage on Evans to 1:19. He didn’t relax in the final 10km, and ended the day with a commanding overall lead, clocking 51 minutes, 24 seconds – 35 seconds faster than Froome.
Wiggins, the 32-year-old triple Olympic champion, had won his first stage on the Tour. What a way to strengthen his grip on the yellow jersey. It was another emphatic demonstration from Sky and a fantastic day for British cycling – a 1–2 on the podium.
‘Time-trialling is what I do best. I know exactly the routine that I need to do,’ said Wiggins. ‘I felt great from the first pedal stroke and I knew I was in for a good one. This is what we have trained for. The graft during the winter, missing the kids’ birthdays having been at training camps – this is what it is for. To get the stage win is fantastic.’
Evans remained second overall, but now one minute and 53 seconds behind Wiggins. The Australian had begun the day only 10 seconds adrift, but ended up fighting to stay ahead of Froome in the GC, after the Team Sky rider’s performance rocketed him up to third, a further 14 seconds back. He said: ‘I am really happy with today. I went hard at it. That is all I can do. I know I haven’t won so there are no big celebrations, but there will be for Bradley.’
STAGE 9 RESULT:
Winner. Bradley Wiggins (GB); Sky; 51’ 24”
2. Chris Froome (GB); Sky; +35”
3. Fabian Cancellara (Swi); RadioShack; +57”
OVERALL STANDINGS:
1. Bradley Wiggins (GB); Sky; 39h 9’ 20”
2. Cadel Evans (Aus); BMC Racing; +1:53”
3. Chris Froome (GB); Team Sky; +2:07”
‘It’s never over until the fat lady sings and she’s not even in the room yet. There is a long way to go and we could be faced with all sorts of situations yet. There is always the possibility of a bad day, injury or illness. It doesn’t do to get ahead of yourself and you know for sure that Cadel will never give up until we get to Paris.’
Bradley Wiggins