Cycling News

26 July 2008

By Simon Gerrans

The great thing about the 20th stage of the Tour de France - which is a 53km time trial - is that after it is over I will be 53 kilometres closer to Paris. I really have absolutely nothing to achieve by killing myself out there in the stage from Cerilly to Saint Amand Montrond. The 19th stage from Roanne to Montlucon over 165.5km was one of the hardest in the Tour - and fastest at 45.728kmh average. I struggled all the way. Three guys missed the time limit. Frenchman Romain Feillu (Agritubel), German Fabian Wegmann (Gerolsteiner) and Spaniard Juan Antonio Fecha (Rabobank) all went out the back on the first climb. The pace went out straight from the start and didn't back off for 84km. It was like: 'Jeez, these blokes are tired ' and it didn't ease up. I'm glad I didn't put any effort into attacking yesterday (stage 18). I am sure the guys who made the efforts have paid for it. When the first break was caught, the chase of the next break started again. I was never  worried that I wouldn't finish or be dropped, but I was hanging in there. 'Look at Feillu who was outside the time limit on stage 19 -  one of the yellow jersey wearers in this Tour. People were hoping the breaks would disappear nice and early. But it was funny, the team tactics. Liquigas worked early and Caisse d'Epargne and Quickstep put in to catch the break. The two attackers for the day were Chavanel and his compatriot Jeremy Roy (Francaise des Jeux) who rode away to beat the bunch but over one minute. So... tomorrow? Hushovd, our sprinter, wasn't feeling up to it this week, so we didn't put any guys up there to chase. But we were talking about it after. If you are going to bring a bloke like Chavanel back you don't give him much time as an actor. He is strong and has showed he can ride away from the bunch. Now we are thinking about the finish in Paris and getting Hushovd up there for the win.

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