Tour de France 2009...

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

1. Katusha, 39km in 47:52

2. Caisse d'Epargne, at 0:06

3. Ag2r, at 0:25

4. FdJ, at 1:23

5. Rabobank, 0:57

6. Lampre, at 2:01

7. BBox, at 3:18

8. Skil-Shimano, at 4:00

 

It's impressive that a team could actually suck more than BBox did, but Skil has managed to achieve that distinction.

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Cofidis is out on the course.

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Garmin team is getting ready

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Cadel Evans is apparently sprinting for the finish... odd. The time will still be based on the fifth man.

 

Garmin is on the road.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

Silence Lotto's time was 1:12 behind Katusha's. Not a good thing for Evans' Tour hopes.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

1. Katusha, 39km in 47:52

2. Caisse d'Epargne, at 0:06

3. Ag2r, at 0:25

4. Rabobank, 0:57

5.Quick Step, at 1:03

6. Silence-Lotto, 1:12

7. FdJ, at 1:23

8. Lampre, at 2:01

9. Agritubel, at 2:55

10. BBox, at 3:18

11. Skil-Shimano, at 4:00

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

Saxo Bank is out on the road.

Interestingly, the Liquigas is setting new best times at the first two time checks.

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Astana is getting ready for the start.

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Wow... Now they've lost Julian Dean. Garmin is down to six.

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Make that five. Garmin is down to five riders. Of course, they are some of the world's best time trialist, but that's a tough position to be in.

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Astana is on the road. This should be an interesting ride.

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Astana makes it through that dicey corner that took Menchov down. No problems.

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Saxo Bank hit the first time check 19 seconds off of the top mark, meaning they are fifth-best of the day at that point.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

Liquigas comes in with the best time, finishing with only five riders, too.

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Saxo Bank just FLEW through what we'll call the BBox corner. It looks like the team is relying on Cancellara to do the longest pulls.

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The Garmin five just blew through the second time check with a time of 25:50. It looks like they have the right five. Vande Velde, Zabriskie, Millar, Wiggins ... and?

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Ryder is the fifth man. He's also suffering a bit.

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Saxo Bank comes through time check No. 2 14 seconds off of the Garmin time

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Back at time check No. 1 Columbi comes through with a time of 12:58, 23 seconds off of the top time.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

Back at the finish, Liquigas's 47:27 stays as the best time of the day so far.