He’s won big time trials in the past but the Maillot Jaune of race leadership wasn’t enough to help Alexandre Vinokourov take a top ten finish in today’s time trial at the Criterium du Dauphiné. Lugging a big gear and rocking from side to side on the bike, he looked less smooth than many of the other overall contenders and had to be satisfied with an eventual 14th place on the stage.
Vinokourov lost two minutes 18 seconds to fastest rider Tony Martin (HTC Highroad), and two minutes 7 seconds to Bradley Wiggins (Sky Procycling). The latter took over at the top.
“It is a disappointment because I thought that the road would be more favourable to me,” the Astana leader admitted. “But my didn’t feel good from the first kilometres. It was difficult then to find the right rhythm. I was torn between the desire to save my yellow jersey and the wisdom not to take risks. I chose the second solution, particularly on the slippery descents where it became too dangerous. "
Vinokourov had looked like a possible winner of the race, but that’s now up in the air due to his one minute 56 second deficit. He’s down to fourth, and knows that he has a lot to do. Still, the stages between Friday and Sunday are very tough ones, and he refuses to concede defeat.
“I lost some time but there are still some very tough mountain stages,” he said, looking past tomorrow’s flatter race to Mâcon. “Nothing is finished.”
The statement is one which may worry Wiggins. He’s a diesel and prefers a steady pace in the mountains; Vinokourov is very much the opposite and will do what he can to chuck a grenade into the general classification. The race isn’t over and he’s certain to attack.