eddy@dual.UUCP (Eddy Merckx) (07/17/84)
Tour de France, Stage 16 - 13.64 mile time trial 1. Laurent Fignon (France) 42:11.15 2. Luis Herrera (Colombia) 42:36.32 3. Pedro Delgado (Spain) 42:43.72 4. Bernard Hinault (France) 42:44.53 5. Julian Gorospe (Spain) 42:52.81 6. Angel Arroyo (Spain) 43:20.94 7. Sean Kelly (Ireland) 43:32.52 8. Robert Millar (Britain) 43:37.43 9. Phil Anderson (Australia) 43:41.01 10. Beat Breu (Switzerland) 43:41.15 (Also: 17. Greg Lemond (US) 44:05.71) (Also: 95. Jonathan Boyer (US)47:33.59) A short individual time trial is an interesting interspersion in a long road race. While the times obviously were a lot smaller than the 130 mile road races, the time trial provides a means for some differentiation between the riders, since there is no pack. In a road race, it would take a major effort to gain a minute on another rider, when often the first 50 riders have almost the same times. Fignon managed to pick up 3:44 on the leader Barteau in this race. This must have been a predominantly uphill course - the average speed of the winner was only 19.4 mph. The hill climbers are definitely coming out, with the Colombian and several Spaniards making an appearance in the top ten. Used to be the Spanish riders only came to the Tour de France to compete for the `King of the Mountains' title, but now they have two riders in the top ten overall. Overall Standings: 1. Vincent Barteau (France) 74:38:14 2. Laurent Fignon (France) 6:29 behind 3. Bernard Hinault (France) 9:15 4. Phil Anderson (Australia) 11:03 5. Gerard Veldscholten (Holland) 11:16 6. Pedro Delgado (Spain) 11:25 7. Sean Kelly (Ireland) 12:04 8. Greg LeMond (USA) 12:33 9. Robert Millar (Britain) 12:38 10. Angel Arroyo (Spain) 14:31 (Also: 26. Jonathan Boyer (USA) 22:32)