CyclingRevealed's First Impressions '05
Stage 20: Saint-Etienne, 55 km Individual Time Trial
The Race of Truth
 Lance Armstrong (seen here on the Alpe d'Huez 2004)
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 Ivan Basso (2nd on GC)
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 Jan Ullrich (3rd on GC)
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There is no hiding in the individual time trial. You are what you are and in the case of Lance Armstrong for six TdF's he has dominated in the time trial discipline. Today he had nothing to prove (except maybe to himself). He was leading the GC by 2mins 46secs over Ivan Basso. This was his last real race (tomorrow is largely a ceremonial promenade for the Yellow Jersey). So why not cruise round and enjoy the adulation of the huge crowds and just make sure that he stays ahead of Basso on GC.
The truth is that Armstrong is the consummate professional. He wanted to exit the race and close his career at the top. So we were treated for one last time to the powerful and beautiful spectacle of Lance in full flight.
As he usually does towards the end of the Tour, the man that Lance most fears, Jan Ullrich, was also in fine form. Like Lance he is also magnificent to watch in this discipline. However try as he may he still conceded 23 seconds to the American.
Ivan Basso started strong but faded to lose 1min 54secs to Lance. Behind these three the battle raged between those in the top ten places on GC. Alex Vinokourov came out on top and even beat Basso to come in third behind Armstrong and Ullrich.
Going into the stage Michael Rasmussen was third on GC with 2 minutes and 12 seconds advantage over Ullrich on GC. The speculation that he might be able to defend his GC position quickly evaporated as he quickly went through a puncture, two crashes and three mechanicals. His race revealed the truth that he is not yet ready to take the pressure placed on the leading elite riders. Media attention, team expectations and probably most of Denmark weighed heavily on him and he just fell apart.
The course itself was technical and not at all flat. Armstrong's average speed was an incredible 46.4kmph (28.8mph) over 55.5kms (34.5miles). This is the raw truth. Armstrong has been the best for six Tours . In number seven he again proved that he is the best.
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