No, not that kind of drinking! I noticed, in the pictures on velonews.com that Lance and Voigt had waterbottles on their seat tube and down tube, respectively. Do they really have time, or dare spend precious seconds taking a couple sips of water. I have only done TT’s of up to 30 min or so but I would think that these guys would “man up” and just deal w/o the water and weight for a little bit. Or am I just dehydrated and not right in the head?
They raced earlier in the day so probably needed more water and nutrients than a normal tt.
2 possibilities here
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They actually like to take in fluids while riding hard, and know that cooling the engine far outweighs the minimal aero impact.
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They read Cobb’s A&M wind tunnel test regarding the advantages of bottles on the frame as they increase surface area and provide a draft to the rear wheel
The Biggest thing to keep in mind here is that they are racing a stage race. “Manning up” might work for a stand-alone one day TT, but it is a recipe for disaster in a race contested over a week or more. Foregoing hydration today will catch up to you tomorrow, or the day after. It’s a whole different sport.
MH
The combination of the rest of the points on this thread probably account for it. The drinking they are doing on the TT is not necessarily for the TT itself- but to speed recovery and maintain hydration/calories for the next stages.
In a consecutive day event, you better drink or you will be screwed.
I caught Boogerd in Amstel on OLN last night drinking at 6K. He was in a two man breakaway and sitting bolt upright at about 25-27 mph. Why would he drink if it weren’t necessary? He was preparing for the final battle, which he lost by the way. 
That’s a great early season classic…
-Robert
Doesn’t Lance say the reason he didn’t win the first TT in last years TdF was because he was dehydrated? I know it was much longer and hotter at the TdF but hydration is very important esp in a stage race.
I wouldn’t call not drinking ‘manning up’, I would call it being stupid.
Andrew
In Every Second Counts, Lance says he lost 15 lbs (presumebly water weight) during the 47km TT last year.
Chris
Of course. If Lance says it, it must be true.
probably not much, but with respect to that first tt in last year’s tdf, he certainly looked as if he had lost quite a bit of fluid. i remember being struck by him looking rather pale and his lips being dried and crusted up. definitely not what he normally looked like after a tt…
My question probably arose from the fact that I am not a tour/stage racer and the closest tempoarl proximity in which I have done two races is two back to back TT’s (one on Sat and one on Sun).
So, let’s rephrase the question: In an isolated ~20k/~30k TT would one see more of a benefit from a hydration/performance standpoint if one took a couple of sips from a frame mounted bottle vs. riding w/ a bottle (empty) on the frame for aero reasons (a la Mr. Cobb)?
I know that the last thing on my mind in a TT is reaching down, fumbling w/ a bottle, putting unnecessary body parts in the air stream, etc, etc. I guess it’s a matter of race preparation / “bottle handling proficiency,” but for short (< 45min) TT’s I think I will choose to go w/o hydration…unless anyone can provide evidence to the alternative.
for 1 20-30k ITT I’d leave the fluid behind unless it’s just roasting hot. then drink only at the turn to minimize becoming less aero.
In Every Second Counts, Lance says he lost 15 lbs (presumebly water weight) during the 47km TT last year.
Chris
And you believed him? If so, I’ve got some swampland in Florida I’d like to sell you.
No, I was repeating what he said in his book. I wasn’t there, and I have never ridden a TdF time-trial, so I didn’t include my own lack of experience. How many TdF time-trials have you ridden? I assume quite a few since you are so quick to dismiss Lance’s own statement. Chris
If it isn’t really hot and humid I say skip the water on anything less then 45min. Just make sure you are rehydrated before and drink a lot after the TT.
It wasn’t all sweat, when he started getting splits of Jan he started shitting himself pretty badly… 
Then he should have a better experience this year when he hears Jan’s times going backwards. “What’s this? Jan has turned around and stopped at the Krispy Kreme drive-through but I don’t see a feed zone on the route map!”