For anyone interested, live coverage is here:
Record is currently held by Johnathan Vaughters at 56:50, but even he expects that to be broken today.
Its not too far of a stretch to say that the record will be broken since this is a TT, and not coming at the end of a ~200km TdF stage. But I’m not so sure that the effect of wearing those funky sideburns well past their welcome hasn’t skewed his thinking a bit when he prognosticates Mayo beating Armstrong by “so much that it’ll worry him.” I also think Ventoux suits Hamilton better than JV gives him credit for. . .he’ll have to be sandbagging to finish behind any teammates. Hamilton will have more issues with Alpe d’Huez due to its greater need for explosive accelerations on the switchbacks.
JV set the record during a time trial at this race a few years back when he was on postal, not at the end of a stage.
And so he did. . .my senility sets in. . .
One of the most recent links on the site listed above says that Lance rode up Mount Ventoux quicker than the TT time in 2002, but it did not count because it was not an official TT.
Initeresting start for the posties. Pena and Landis very strong so far.
Split at 15.5 km (of 21.6 total)
Mayo: 39:04
Hamilton 39:31
Mercado 39:37
Sevilla 39:39
Lance: 40:02
But, this site keeps changing its mind, so this may be subject to change.
Tyler Hamilton comes through in 56’26, closely followed by Lance Armstrong in 57’49…
But the new best time and the new leader of the Dauphine Libere is Iban Mayo, who has blizted Vaughters’ record by a minute with an incredible time of 55’51!! He wins the stage and takes the jersey. Hamilton second ahead of Sevilla, Mercado and Armstrong.
Wow!!!
And the Ventoux gets Mr. A again. . .Nice result for TH. . .
And now, let the second-guessing for Armstrong’s 6-th title begin… 
Well…this result will get everybody talking.
Looks like JV was pretty spot on in his predictions …
mp
Personally, I’m going to attempt to shut my trap for the rest of the day. . .In my sleep-deprivation induced haze, I am batting .000 today.
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Pissed offthe boss
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Pissed off Tibbsy
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Way off in my arm-chair commentary in my first post above. . .except for the part that I disagreed with JV’s assessment of Hamilton.
TBG is now slinking off to his hole to sleep this one off. . .
But not before commenting that I don’t think this means Mr. A is not going to win in July. . .It sure feeds the rumor mongers though.
wow
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So has the fall from power begun?
1 Iban Mayo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 55.51
2 Tyler Hamilton (USA) Phonak Hearing Systems 0.33
3 Oscar Sevilla (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 1.03
4 Juan Miguel Mercado (Spa) Quick.Step-Davitamon 1.48
5 Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal presented by Berry Floor 1.58
6 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Rabobank 3.21
7 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank 3.33
8 Stéphane Goubert (Fra) Ag2R Prevoyance 3.36
9 David Moncoutie (Fra) Cofidis, le credit par Telephone 3.59
10 Floyd Landis (USA) US Postal presented by Berry Floor 4.09
What will his excuse today be?
Mr. Armstrong fifth on an uphill time trial what does this mean, maybe something…maybe nothing. Iban Mayo looks to be in great form, but can he hold that form through week three of the tour I doubt it. The Tour is going to be very hard in the last week and unless he has improved his time trialling ability in a grand tour he will still not be capable of winning the Tour. WIth that said he has improved, but has Mayo’s time trialling improved enough to stay in contention for the win?
Hamilton looks in good considering this is his first race since Romandie. Whoever said he’d be behind one of his teamates must have forgotten that he does or at least did hold Mt. Washington (right Mtn.?) Time Trial record. I agree with TriBriGuy that TH will have a more difficult go on Alp d’Huez though, just does not have the same explosiveness, the turns will make it a little a tougher for him, but a 1’25" on Lance. Tyler has definitely confirmed he is the real deal—a real TdF favourite.
Lance has lost the Dauphine before and won the tour. Being in peak form four weeks from the race isn’t so smart.
I totally agree…great form as a whole so far out from the final week isn’t such a good indicator of who will win the TdF, but neither is a 2 minute kick in the nuts either. In all seriousness, most of the big favourites have quiet too quiet…look at Jan (I am positive this is as planned), Vinoukorov, Basso, Zubeldia and possibly Mr. Armstrong, and even Tyler who struggles a little the other day, but then only his second day back racing in a month. Mayo may be the real deal this year, but he will have to prove it to be considered a favourite at the TdF in my books. The TdF is about consistency and he hasn’t proved to be consistent yet.
He was beaten by Jan last year by almost the same margin in the tour! I said in the other thread too, The Tour is NOT won in June - ask my friend Jan!! He knows that too!
I said at the start of this race that Phonak has an awesome team now that Oscar is back to his old self - remeber this guy has challenged for the TdF before… with him and Tyler – oooo cannot wait for the TdF this year - gonna be good!