Standout TTs
rick_chasey
Posts: 75,661
Time for a bit of off season fun.
Now, I'm not one for TTs. Find them a necessary evil, but treat them like an off-day watching more often than not.
However, even though they're riding on their own, with (usually) no visual reference, occasionally, there's a TT which is such an athletic achievement that just comes alive from the TV.
I'm not talking the most exciting in terms of a contest, like the the closest TT. We can all think of that Lemond TT for example, and many other close run TTs. Not talking the TT victories if your favourite riders, I'm talking where you sit back, jaw dropped, astounded by the athletic achievement. It's so good, it makes you sit up and notice.
Here's 2 for starters.
Cancellara's Mendrisio TT in the 2009 Worlds. So good he literally passed every rival, and still had enough time to sit up and take it easy, salute the crowd for the last 500m. Even the speed with which he passes his rivals is just bonkers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ha26GN_RLNc
Ulrich, Stage 12, 2003 Tour Cap Découverte. 40 degrees heat. Everyone else is wilting. Ullrich turns up off the back of a 'protein overdose' (more likely some dodgy doping) fever. No-one seems to be able to find their rhythm, not even Lance. But Ulrich just eats up the kilometres (like he's eating cake in the off season) on an undulating course at 50kph. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34QSWcKEfu0
Now, I'm not one for TTs. Find them a necessary evil, but treat them like an off-day watching more often than not.
However, even though they're riding on their own, with (usually) no visual reference, occasionally, there's a TT which is such an athletic achievement that just comes alive from the TV.
I'm not talking the most exciting in terms of a contest, like the the closest TT. We can all think of that Lemond TT for example, and many other close run TTs. Not talking the TT victories if your favourite riders, I'm talking where you sit back, jaw dropped, astounded by the athletic achievement. It's so good, it makes you sit up and notice.
Here's 2 for starters.
Cancellara's Mendrisio TT in the 2009 Worlds. So good he literally passed every rival, and still had enough time to sit up and take it easy, salute the crowd for the last 500m. Even the speed with which he passes his rivals is just bonkers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ha26GN_RLNc
Ulrich, Stage 12, 2003 Tour Cap Découverte. 40 degrees heat. Everyone else is wilting. Ullrich turns up off the back of a 'protein overdose' (more likely some dodgy doping) fever. No-one seems to be able to find their rhythm, not even Lance. But Ulrich just eats up the kilometres (like he's eating cake in the off season) on an undulating course at 50kph. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34QSWcKEfu0
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Comments
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When you talk of the Lemond TT, I assume you mean 89? I know you were still in nappies back then but I can tell you it felt nothing like a TT at the time.
1987 Tour de France every single CLM seemed like an epic battle. Keeping in mind they were a 90km (ish) run over lumpy roads, then the one to Ventoux and then the final that decide the race it's no suprise.Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.0 -
The long TT in 87 (54 miles Saumur -Futuroscope) was noted at the time for not really being much quicker than long TTs in the 1950s. The final TT in 89 really was something else, I remember thinking at the time that I couldn't sprint as fast as Lemond averaged that day. Notable TTs for me are the downhill prologue in the 87 Giro and another Giro TT which crossed the lagoon to Venice on a floating pontoon bridge! I wonder if anyone felt seasick riding that day (sorry, forgotten the year 1978?)
Unlike Rick I love TTs.0 -
Seeing Armstrong catch Ulrich in a prologue (2004 tour?) was pretty jaw dropping. Quite an accurate predictor of the race to come, too.
Delgado's performance in the 89 tour prologue was also memorable, though perhaps not for the reasons you are looking for...0 -
No love for the last TT in the TDF in 2012? It all seems a bit academic now that Brits win the TDF all the time but back then in was massive, possibly even a bit emotional!0
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mulletmaster wrote:No love for the last TT in the TDF in 2012? It all seems a bit academic now that Brits won the TDF all the time but back then in was massive, possibly even a bit emotional!
Not really.
What was so exceptional about it, other than it was a brit?0 -
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iainf72 wrote:When you talk of the Lemond TT, I assume you mean 89? I know you were still in nappies back then but I can tell you it felt nothing like a TT at the time.
1987 Tour de France every single CLM seemed like an epic battle. Keeping in mind they were a 90km (ish) run over lumpy roads, then the one to Ventoux and then the final that decide the race it's no suprise.
Makes sense.
A lot to go wrong in 90km odd.
Can't see those making GTs more competitive nowadays mind.0 -
Rick Chasey wrote:mulletmaster wrote:No love for the last TT in the TDF in 2012? It all seems a bit academic now that Brits won the TDF all the time but back then in was massive, possibly even a bit emotional!
Not really.
What was so exceptional about it, other than it was a brit?
Like if an African nation played out a turgid 1-0 world cup final to finally win that would also be massive.0 -
mulletmaster wrote:Rick Chasey wrote:mulletmaster wrote:No love for the last TT in the TDF in 2012? It all seems a bit academic now that Brits won the TDF all the time but back then in was massive, possibly even a bit emotional!
Not really.
What was so exceptional about it, other than it was a brit?
Like if an African nation played out a turgid 1-0 world cup final to finally win that would also be massive.
Yah, that's what I meant by athletic performance - to avoid the jingoism colouring the answers .
Ultimately it was a fairly conventional TT from a Tour winning TT specialist. Competition wasn't that fierce, nor did he really wipe the floor and make you think 'didn't know anyone could go that fast'.0 -
In that case the Obree Boardman hour record saga must be the pinnacle?0
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I prefer TTs to sprint stages, at least they provide some time differences.0
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Have to say I agree with the above. Wouldn't want 8 TTs in a GT but do prefer what we get to the seemingly endless flat finishes.0
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Stage 9 of the 1994 Tour, mainly because of this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmR9k8UAohs Indurain was flying.0
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2012 World Championships TT was a cracker with Der Panzerwagon beating Phinney by a mere 5 seconds.0
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shazzz wrote:Seeing Armstrong catch Ulrich in a prologue (2004 tour?) was pretty jaw dropping. Quite an accurate predictor of the race to come, too.
2005 Tour.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wN_dUmUjAPE
Can't have been that good a TT - didn't even win the stage.
Think it was more Ulrich being slow.0 -
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Dolan Driver wrote:
Fastest TT ever at the time wasn't it?
Beat Roche by 49 secs over 20km.
Something about the lack of TT kit that makes it seem a lot more about just cycling faster - looks like what I see on embankment most mornings and evenings - only bit more grass and a bit faster .0 -
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You are hard to please Rick! "Remember that TT Evans won on a unicycle?" "Yeah but he had an aero helmet on, nothing special" :-P
This is memorable for the wrong reasons, it's now the third fastest ever but it's over twice as long as the first and second place efforts and the tech is 8 years older. This just shows how supercharged they were!
Tour de France 2005 - Stage 4 Part 2/2 Team Time …: http://youtu.be/q7Hvav3gAok0 -
Rick Chasey wrote:Pokerface wrote:2012 World Championships TT was a cracker with Der Panzerwagon beating Phinney by a mere 5 seconds.
Yeah, but I wasn't blown away by either ride.
It was just close.
Sure - but as most TTs are as dull as dishwater, it was exciting to see one so close. Usually you know who will win by the halfway point!0 -
Stage 9, 1992 Tour de France.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcK9gTj0kT4
Check out the top 5.
Indurain 1h 19m 31s
De La Cuevas @ 3m 00s
Bugno @ 3m 41s
Jaskula @ 3m 47s
Lemond @ 4m 04s0 -
greasedscotsman wrote:Stage 9, 1992 Tour de France.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcK9gTj0kT4
Check out the top 5.
Indurain 1h 19m 31s
De La Cuevas @ 3m 00s
Bugno @ 3m 41s
Jaskula @ 3m 47s
Lemond @ 4m 04s
Pow. Exactly. Good one.0 -
Boardman's '94 prologue has to be in there.
LeBlanc had said earlier that he was not impressed with Boardmans hour record..." half the peloton could do that."
After smashing past him on the road, in a post race interview Boardman is quoted to have said "at least we know which half he's in."You only need two tools: WD40 and Duck Tape.
If it doesn't move and should, use the WD40.
If it shouldn't move and does, use the tape.0 -
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Rick Chasey wrote:greasedscotsman wrote:Stage 9, 1992 Tour de France.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcK9gTj0kT4
Check out the top 5.
Indurain 1h 19m 31s
De La Cuevas @ 3m 00s
Bugno @ 3m 41s
Jaskula @ 3m 47s
Lemond @ 4m 04s
Pow. Exactly. Good one.
Absolute monster ride.0 -
Rick Chasey wrote:shazzz wrote:Seeing Armstrong catch Ulrich in a prologue (2004 tour?) was pretty jaw dropping. Quite an accurate predictor of the race to come, too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wN_dUmUjAPE
Can't have been that good a TT - didn't even win the stage.
Think it was more Ulrich being slow.
Never, Never put the 2 best riders (on past performances) off the start line with only a minute between them.
A bit like some Idiot Midlands District officials allowing a field placing of a Road race champion starting number 119 and Cottington number 120 breaking Competition Record which was not allowed because 119 followed him home. B*stards.
Whenever I went to a TT, I would make sure I have a watch and a Start Sheet otherwise it is "Boring".
While on the continent with a copy of L'equipe I found people looking over my shoulder for increased interest about who was leading so far.
The BBC have never grasped how to present a cycle race since the days they made a fool of themselves at Herne Hill.
If they are Bright enough they might study how the Continent TV do such a good job with Downhill Skiing and their "Mi Nute" intermediate times. (I know minute and minute are spelt the same)Organiser, National Championship 50 mile Time Trial 19720 -
My Favourite TT's are, obviously :- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmR9k8UAohs as I have the DVD to see it coming for half a mile and the great pleasure it gave at the time catching the guy with all mouth and no trousers.
(some sort of World Champion)
Cancellara
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqyyNrOIatU winning the Tour of Suisse but this clip spoils the sound of his bike on the Pave. (In Bern I think it was)
Sean Yates on many occasions
Obree winning Champion 50 mile in Thanet where at Manston Airport he caught his 5 minute man who was the reigning Best All Round Champion.Organiser, National Championship 50 mile Time Trial 19720