The Tour ends next sunday.

I'm kinda bummed Tyler is out.

Ivan Basso is the surprise rider of this year.

 

Basso is indeed the surprise. I'm only catching up on the Tour... I didn't know until yesterday that I could watch it. (Didn't know I got OLC)

 

I didn't think yesterday's race was that interesting. The countryside was cool though

Rest today.

 

all this resting, these guys really are pussies

 

 

and today is rest day...

 

125 miles dam near every day!!!

 

These guys are incredible in the time trials. The top riders can pedal 30 miles in about 32 minutes averaging about 29 mph. That means they are maintaining 29 mph, sometimes a little bit slower, sometimes a little bit faster for 30 miles.

I don't see how they could do that if they were riding into the wind for 30 straight miles. I have heard of a professional cyclist being able to reach 45 mph on flat ground. I assume that is with a tailwind.

I can sprint as fast as 35 mph with a good tailwind, as fast as 45 mph about 10-12 inches away from a big rig on flat ground, but I would be lucky to average 20-21 mph for 30 straight miles. These guys are awesome athletes.

A couple of months ago, I drafted a big rig for 1 1/2 miles maxing out at 44 mph

 

The fastest time trial in the Tour de France is Greg Lemond in 1989 at 34+ mph.
The fastest time trial ever was by Chris Boardman at 35+mph (56km in one hour). The hour record.
Big sprinters can do 45+mph in a race. Track racers can go faster than that (don't know their top speed though).

 

125miles is not bad if done on the flat. Throw in those climbs and insane heat and we have a killer.