Thanks NBC...

Thank you NBC for deciding to have the live coverage on NBC and not NBCSN this am because when I got up later then I normally do there was no TDF on the DVR.    Well I knew right away that it must be on NBC and not where it should be on NBCSN.  Flipped it on to catch the last 2K live.  Well at least that was most of the action for day so there is that.  Up side I got to play with the live data beta site.  Interesting but more on that later.

Now as for the race.   Hmm... Nibali OH MY.    It is only 10 secs but why was it 10 seconds?  Just not sharp?  Headwind?  Distracted by another bidon?  We will know what there is to know on Tuesday when we get the mountains in ernest.

The other thing I took away from that sharp climb at the end was that the rest of the main guys seem to all be there or there abouts.   Tejay and BMC again have not put a foot wrong.  Tomorrow could be a very very big day for them.  So close to yellow and they are the world champions at the discipline of Team Time Trialling.  So again on the morrow we will know what there there is to know.

So lets have a word about tomorrow.  Appointment television for sure.   If I am correct this is latest a TTT has been in the tour.  The TV Folks said the tour had to get a special compensation from the UCI to have it this late.  Lots of teams are missing riders.  Time will be lost on the road for many.   It could be massive for some.   Oh and hey it ends going up hill. 

Look at that profile.  Now that is anything but FLAT.   So it is all going to come down a few key things.  What teams have the right group of ridders for this(I am looking at you BMC and Sky).   What teams have all 9 men in good health still.   What team has the right rhythm and plan for the day.   It will be very exciting to watch.

Where we stand

Images from the day

From steephill.com

And I just love these from Getty Images

Meanwhile at the tour of Austria this is what the podium looks like.  Presented without further comment.

Data from Today

Interesting...  the tour data first reported that the winner on the stage climbed the Mur at 39km/h but pretty quickly corrected that to 27.23km/h.  Beta... still in beta but I love the concept.