Gallery
Picking Them Off One by One
The Time Trial stage has riders starting on their own at first two minute intervals and then three minute intervals as the top riders come to the start line. The order of start times is in reverse of the rider's placing on the General Classification, so the Lanterne Rouge starts off the day and the Maillot Jaune is the last rider on the road. Tony Martin (OPQS) in his Rainbow Jersey of the World Time Trial Champion, was burning up the 54 kilometer course passing rider after rider who had set out before him. At this point he is catching Mickael Cherel (AG2R) who had left downtown Bergerac 8 minutes ahead of the Time Trial Specialist. Riders are not allowed to draft off of each other, so as Martin approached Cherel, he swung wide of the Frenchman and then stayed on that side of the road until he was well past the Frenchman. Not that Cherel could have caught the wheel of the flying German.