Damn, I was keeping track of this on the Cycling News website this morning. Aitor Gonzalez just crushed everyone in the time trial to take the Vuelta! His average speed for the 41km(25.5mile) TimeTrial was a whopping 51.98km or 32.49MPH! Geeezus, I'm lucky to get going that fast down a friggin hill! http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2002/vuelta02/?id=results/21 From start to finish in today's time trial, Gonzalez showed impressive form and never faltered, setting the fastest times at each check along the course. Sadly, the same good fortune did not shine on his teammate and former race leader Oscar Sevilla. Hampered severely by mechanical problems (and two bike changes) in the early part of the course, Sevilla lost considerable time and never refound his momentum. Looking forward to a third place overall, which itself may not have been consolation enough for losing the race lead in the previous week, Sevilla suddenly was forced to scramble to maintain his place ahead of ONCE's Beloki. The combination of terrible luck for Sevilla and a strong ride by Beloki was just enough to knock Sevilla into 4th overall by just 15 seconds, a devastating blow to the young rider who for the second year in succession had come close to his first grand tour win. As for Roberto Heras, his dominant performances in the mountains did not give him an adequate time advantage over Aitor Gonzalez. Heras limited his losses in the Vuelta's first individual time trial, but today's longer course clearly suited the powerful Gonzalez more than the pure climber Heras. From the first time checks it became painfully clear that Heras would have no answer to Gonzalez's superior power. Team director Johan Bruyneel chose not to reveal the time gaps to Heras until it was clear that he had lost. He did so later on and Heras knew it was over, riding to the finish to save some pride and his second place overall. The US Postal Service came close to its second grand tour victory of the season, but had to be content with second overall, and the combination jersey which Heras took home as his own consolation.
