Tour de France 2012 Stage 9-Individual Time Trial

Bicycling regularly around south Caddo parish and occasionally venturing out to various routes in the Ark-La-Tex presents its challenges, pleasures and rewards, but it’s nothing quite like bicycling the legendary Tour de France (Tdf).

 I’d heard of TdF many years ago. In 1994, when I began bicycling “seriously,” I’d known about it. But it wasn’t until learning of how American bicyclist and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong was riding into history as the winner of a record number of consecutive Tours de France that I began setting aside time to watch each July. So, trying to make time to catch all the stages has become something of a challenge for me in at least the last 7 years. I’ve not seen them all in one year yet, but I figure I’ll get there at some time.

Anyway, Monday, July 9 was Stage 9 an individual time trial. Each of the 178 riders still on the tour rode a bit over 45 kilometers – right at 27 miles – in the fastest time possible. These are professional athletes on a par with the best in any sport of which we can think. These athletes compete in a sport that is intense, physically and mentally. To watch them perform and listen to the commentary of the announcers on the course causes me an adrenaline rush, particularly when a time mark is set and riders begin to best “the time to beat.”

When the World champion, Tony Martin of Germany set the day’s fastest time at just over 54 minutes, speculation flew open as to how the stage would end. One by one, riders after Martin's  ride successively lowered the time until the 54 minute mark was ghosted and Tony fell outside the Top Ten finishers. The first assault came when Switzerland’s Fabian Cancellara obliterated Martin’s time by about two minutes – 52:21. From then until the current leader of the Tour, Bradley Wiggins of Great Britain finished, each cyclist flew faster and faster through the roughly 27  mile course from Arc- et - Senans to Besançon, pedaling thier metal steeds at an average of 30 miles per hour.  

Wiggins, many Tour observers believe, is on his way to winning the 2012 Tour. In the final results, he turned in a time of 51:24, besting Cancellara by nearly a full minute and retaining the coveted yellow jersey wearer status. “I knew from the first pedal rev that I was on it,” Wiggins said. “I kept cool…try(ing) not to predict because you can only be disappointed or surprised… I just happened to end it in a fantastic position. This is the stuff of dreams… It’s brilliant, isn’t it? It’s what every kid dreams of doing: winning the Tour.” Stage 10 hits the road Wednesday with a check to see if Bradley Wiggins wakes from his bicycling dream.