The top two steps of the podium are looking quite certain, and the third one is taking shape, as the final time trial of the Tour did its thing around Annecy, in Provence. Alberto Contador has seized all the power he could possibly need as he sorts out his future, establishing himself as the dominant Tour de France rider for the coming era, with Andy Schleck set up to spar with Bert for some time to come. Bunched behind these two is a curious quartet of riders, each of who is staking a somewhat improbable claim to that fourth Podium spot. Not much to say about a time trial: they rode fast... some faster than others. Results:
- Alberto Contador, Astana, 48'30"
- Fabian Cancellara, Saxo Bank, at 0.03
- Mikhail Ignatiev, Katusha, at 0.15
- Gustav Erik Larsson, Saxo Bank, at 0.33
- David Millar, Garmin-Slipstream, at 0.41
- Bradley Wiggins, Garmin-Slipstream, at 0.43
- Luis Leon Sanchez, Caisse d'Epargne, at 0.44
- Christophe Moreau, Agritubel, at 0.45
- Andreas Kloden, Astana, at 0.54
- David Zabriskie, Garmin-Slipstream, at 1.02
And the new GC:
- Alberto Contador, Astana
- Andy Schleck, Saxo Bank, at 4.11
- Lance Armstrong, Astana, at 5.25
- Bradley Wiggins, Garmin-Slipstream, at 5.36
- Andreas Kloden, Astana, at 5.38
- Frank Schleck, Saxo Bank, at 5.59
- Vincenzo Nibali, Liquigas, at 7.15
- Christian VandeVelde, Garmin-Slipstream, at 10.08
- Mikel Astarloza, Euskaltel, at 12.38
- Christophe Le Mevel, Francais des Jeux at 12.41
Alberto Contador looks like a guy who could win a lot of Tours...