Stage 19 - Saturday, July 24 2010, Bordeaux - Pauillac, 51 km

July 24, Stage 19: Bordeaux - Pauillac 52km

1 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank 1:00:56

2 Tony Martin (Ger) Team HTC - Columbia 0:00:17

3 Bert Grabsch (Ger) Team HTC - Columbia 0:01:48

4 Ignatas Konovalovas (Ltu) Cervelo Test Team 0:02:34

21 Chris Anker Sorensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank 0:04:46

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!

21st place for Chris!!!!!! INCREDIBLE!

AWESOME CHRIS!!!

Check out this power file.

Some of the best pacing I have seen in a time trial. He started out quick, but not unrealistic getting up to speed in the first 30 seconds at 460 watts, and then settling into his rhythm and for the next two minutes he averaged 363 watts. This makes really good sense as typically when in an aggressive time trial position, you cannot hold the same wattage that you can hold in your road position. Chris' FTP has been right at 390-395 for the Tour and he averaged 369 watts(5.76 w/kg) normalized for the time trial. So, about 20-25 watts lower than what he can do on a climb on his road bike, and that's what I would say is acceptable especially since he has an aggressive position. I would think that if he had the opportunity to ride on his TT bike more often, then he could improve his TT power, so that it is within 10 watts of his FTP on the road bike.

Look at the cadence that Chris held as well, he averaged 98rpm for the time trial, which is a quick cadence, but also makes sense as he pedals at 90 rpm on the climbs and just doesn't have the muscular strength to create the force needed to push a bigger gear. He must rely on his cardiovascular system in order to create the watts with a fast cadence.

If you look at the 'stacked' view in WKO+ software, you will see that there are many spikes in his power right after a drop in power. These are the turns and round -abouts along the course where he had to momentarily stop pedaling and then get started again.

In the last 5 minutes of the time trial he picked up the pace and averaged 377 watts normalized and in the last minute and half he averaged 413 watts or 6.45 w/kg.

The shape of his power curve over the entire time trial is what I call the 'double peak' interval shape. When there is a small peak at the beginning of the interval or time trial and then a nice solid flat line in the middle representing settling into your best average watts, and finished with a small peak at the end so that you finish strong. When I see this shape for an interval or time trial, I know that Chris has done his very best effort. He has left nothing on the table and pushed to his maximum for the time period. GREAT JOB Chris!!!

Download WKO File