Stage 5 - July 12: Verdun - Bar-le-Duc, TTT, 67 km

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Preview

By Tim Maloney

Perhaps the most spectacular cycling event will take place on a rolling, windy course. Last year, ONCE won the TTT event in St. Nazaire and the pink clad squad should once again be a favorite for the team test. Will their efforts chasing today compromise tomorrow's performance ? And can the same be asked of USPS ? They need to keep Armstrong close on GC so a top three placing is almost mandatory for the Postal squad. The biggest pressure will be on Credit Agricole to defend O'Grady's Maillot Jaune, but TTT's are a specialty of CA and O'Grady is a reasonable bet to keep his Maillot Jaune another day.

Start list

14.05: Cofidis
14.10: Euskaltel-Euskdai
14.15: AG2r-Prevoyance
14.20: Lampre-Daikin
14.25: BigMat
14.30: Jean Delatour
14.35: Rabobank
14.40: CSC-Tiscali
14.45: DOMO Farm Frites
14.50: iBanesto.com
14.55: Bonjour
15.00: La Française des Jeux
15.05: Fassa Bortolo
15.10: Telekom
15.15: Lotto-Adecco
15.20: Mapei-Quick Step
15.25: Kelme-Costa Blanca
15.30: US Postal Service
15.35: ONCE-Eroski
15.40: Festina
15.45: Crédit Agricole

Profile

Description

Start time: 1410 CEST
Estimated finish time: 1702 CEST

The fast, spectacular team time trial is feared by many riders, as a poorly drilled team or one with weak members can lose significant amounts of time for its top GC rider. This was exemplified last year by Kelme which lost nearly 5 minutes in the 70 kilometre stage. The strong teams for this event include ONCE, US Postal, Telekom, Rabobank, Fassa Bortolo and Credit Agricole. The stage contains a few short climbs, but is largely flat.

Verdun, in northeastern France, also lies on the Meuse River. It is an important transportation centre, and was particularly prosperous in Roman times and during the 800s. The Peace of Westphalia (1648), which ended the Thirty Years War, placed Verdun firmly in French possession and it became an important strategic centre. In the late 19th century, the town became the main French fortress facing Germany. The longest battle of World War I was fought at Verdun in 1916 and it was almost completely destroyed during this conflict.

The small town of Bar-le-Duc (pop. 18,577) is the capital of the Meuse department in Lorraine. Situated in the picturesque Ornain valley, Bar-le-Duc has preserved many old houses from the 16th-18th centuries. It also has a 15th century church and ones from the 13th and 14th centuries.

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