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Stage 19: Le Creusot to Montceau les Mines - 57km (ITT)
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Course: This final time trial follows a complicated 57km route between the twin industrial cities of Le Creusot and Montceau-les-Mines. There are a few long straightaways, but in between — from 5km-17km, 23km-34km and 47km-55km — the course is on a mixture of narrow back roads and city streets that twist and climb around the district’s former coalmines and steel mills. In other words, it’s a challenging up-and-down course where riders are constantly changing direction, sprinting out of turns, grinding up hills and racing down descents.
History: Only once has this area hosted a Tour stage; that was in 1998 when a 52km time trial was held in the opposite direction, on a less-demanding course, from Montceau to Le Creusot. Ullrich was the winner by 1:01 over American Bobby Julich, with third place going to race leader Pantani — which confirmed the Paris podium of Pantani-Ullrich-Julich.
Favorites: It’s possible that the time gaps between the GC contenders will be close enough that this final TT will decide the outcome of the whole race. ) Assuming none of the top guys have dropped by the wayside, the stage should be closely fought, with top favorite Landis being challenged by Evans, Klöden, Leipheimer and Menchov. Time-trial specialists like Sergei Gontchar, Michael Rogers and Dave Zabriskie could also vie for the stage win.
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