Time trial question

[novetan]

In the Tour, besides the nominated leader riding in the time trial, will there be any of his team mates (and how many) also riding? On what criteria his team mate is chosen to ride.

 

[The Couch]

Everyone rides the time trial.
Consider it as a normal stage, but instead of everybody starting together, they need to start alone with intervals

The difference is that there is no potential "to benefit" of riding in the bulk of the peloton (using lesser energy) during the time trial. It's every man for himself.
This discipline has it's specialists that go for the stage win, while team leaders (i.e. people going for the GC) try just to gain (or loose as little) time versus their GC opponents

Depending on how much climbs the TT has or how far away in the 3-weeks it is (the later it is, the better suited for GC-guys with more recuperation), the GC-guys can also go for the stage win, however this isn't their main objective

 

[novetan]

Ok, everyone rides. Tks.

 

[Beebo]

the rest of the team cant just pootle round and treat it like a rest day.
They still use a time percentage cut off point to make sure everyone tries as hard as possible.

 

[montage]

Ok, everyone rides. Tks.

Last person in the GC goes off first, first person in the GC last

 

[Mankul]

Time trialing in a tour is especially difficult because of the accumulated fatique from previous stages.

 

[oldroadman]

the rest of the team cant just pootle round and treat it like a rest day.
They still use a time percentage cut off point to make sure everyone tries as hard as possible.

Which can be as low as between 5% - 8% depending on terrain and distance. This is no fun if you are a worn out domestique in week two and a Tony Martin type specialist is out for the stage win. Word has it he won the Vuelta TT using a 58(!!) x 11 top gear for the downhill bits. He's a pleasant bloke but scarily fast in a TT.