Tony Martin won today's stage 20 Tour de France time trial around Grenoble, beating new yellow jersey Cadel Evans by the tiny margin of seven seconds after the 42.5-kilometer race. Martin's ride of 55'33 was almost equal to the one he had on the same course during the Critérium du Dauphiné in June, finishing only six seconds slower.
The German punched the air as he came across the line. "I am ready to hug the world," he said to French TV after his biggest time trial win in his career. The first to get a hug was his HTC-Highroad teammate Mark Cavendish, who was waiting next to him. Cavendish already knew he would go to the podium to pick up the green jersey.
For Martin, the uncertainty lasted until Evans was about 50 meters from the line. Up until then, the closest rival was Alberto Contador, more than a minute back. Even Evans did not look as a threat initially. "I was watching it on TV and I saw that he was 21 seconds down on the first check." But the Australian, who was 1'20 slower than Martin in the Dauphiné, mounted a comeback. "I became really nervous when he moved to within seven seconds at the second check," Martin said.
It became even more of a nail biter as Evans moved to within two seconds at the third check, five kilometers from the line. The seconds ticked away as the Australian came down the finishing straight and when the clock hit 55'34, Cavendish was the first to congratulate Martin.
For the young German it is a big consolation, after his dream of a top ten finish in Paris fell apart on the uphills. "When I found I couldn't follow the overall contenders in the mountains, my only goal was a time trial win today," Martin said. "Today I got the win and this is a really nice finish for the Tour de France for me." In the overall, he stands 44th, more than an hour and a half behind Evans.
Evans and Martin had one big advantage of rivals like Contador or Fränk and Andy Schleck. "I learned a lot from the time trial in the Dauphiné, it really helped. I was stronger than in the Dauphiné even if my legs were suffering from the Tour, and I felt more tired than four weeks ago." His time of the Dauphiné was only slightly better, but in June Martin had to race in a downpour, so took less risks on the technical descent into Grenoble.
HTC-Highroad has now taken five stages in the Tour de France this year; four for Mark Cavendish and one with Martin. Martin won seven races this season, including four time trials and the overall of Paris-Nice this spring. Cavendish has one more chance to take a win, tomorrow on the Champs-Élysées in Paris.