Pointy Helmet’s Tour De France Commentary: Prologue.

This morning was the moment we’ve all been waiting for. The Tour de Lance France began. The prologue this year was a 15.5k time trial around Monaco, which is a tiny country that evidently is near France. For triathletes, the time trial stages hold a special place in the cockles of our hearts, because we get to see Real Athletes using the equipment that we love so much (including pointy helmets). And this year, we’re fortunate to have three TT stages–two individual TTs and a team time trial, coming up soon on Tuesday.

Of course, everyone’s eyes are on Lance Armstrong this July. Most 37 year olds can’t compete in endurance sports on the most elite levels. However, Lance Armstrong has made it very clear over the years that he does what he wants, and he usually does it pretty darn well. So he’s racing this year.

Other competitors to watch include: the rest of the Astana team, TT specialist and Swiss Beast Fabian Cancellara, sprinting specialist and good looking guy Mark Cavendish, and Lance Armstrong.

The TT course this morning was rather technical, with a sharp ascent and decent, and some technical sections, particularly toward the end of the course. I was glad to see almost all riders deciding to use a full aero setup, including TT bike, TT bars, aero front and rear disc wheel and an aero helmet. (Hey, Danilo Di Luca, pay attention.)

Teams basically got to choose the order of their riders at the start, so Astana decided to put Lance off early in the day. He put in a pretty good ride, but seemed to fade toward the end. His ride of just over 20 minutes was tops at the line, but was quickly bettered by nine other riders. His position looked pretty good (velonews), and his new Trek TT bike is very smooth, but I’ll bet he was disappointed that he didn’t beat a certain Spanish rider.

Some other riders not named Lance did well. The last two riders of consequence out of the start gate were Astana’s “leader” (maybe) Alberto Contador and Fabian Cancellara. Contador displayed his fine time trialling skills on the tough course, but in the end Fabian slaughtered the field, beating Contador by 18 seconds and the rest of the field by a generally beastly margin.

Other notes:

• TT gear looked really awesome.  It looks like teams are spending more time on the details of the riders’ setups.  In particular, basebars looked well-considered and aero positions were generally good.  Not so much arm “scooping.”
• The traditional TT contenders–Cancellara, Wiggins, Leipheimer, Zabriskie, Millar, etc–all seemed to be on form.  Zabriskie and Millar finished a bit far back, but it was a tough, technical course that isn’t perfectly suited to a pure TT rider.
• Lance Armstrong, Lance Armstrong, Lance Armstrong, Lance Armstrong, Lance Armstrong.  Did you know he’s racing this year?
• I don’t think Contador can be beat this year.  His 2nd place effort today was very strong.  It’s only the first of 20 days of racing, but with his TT strength and his climbing abilities, I’m not sure anyone can beat him this year.
• Except Lance Armstrong.