Grabsch justifies world champion status with TT win

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For the first time since he became the world champion in Varese in September, Bert Grabsch won a race. At the average speed of 49.462km/h, the Team Columbia-Highroad rider powered a big gear to beat Cadel Evans by only seven seconds. Evans rode back into yellow, now with a 45 seconds on Alberto Contador prior to climb the Mont Ventoux.

Grabsch targeted the stage to seek his first win as the world champion. "[At] 42 km, without many mountains but some wind, that was perfect for me," he said. "I'm very happy to win with my rainbow jersey. After the world championship last year, I did five or six time trials and I was always in the top 10, but every time the distance was too short for me to win."

At the second check point (km 22.4), Evans was ahead of Grabsch by 12 seconds. "My weight is heavier than Cadel's, it helped to get my lead back at the end," commented the world champion. Grabsch is still unsure if he will take part in the Tour de France this year. The inaugural time trial in Monaco doesn't suit him, but he already looking to repeat his world title in Mendrisio in September.

Another pure time triallist had a very convincing ride in Valence and that was David Millar who clocked the third best time. "It was good," the Scot said. "I'm pretty happy with my time. I expected to have a harder time on the way back because of the wind." After the half way check point, where he only had the 12th best time, Millar rode 17 seconds faster than Grabsch. "The form is definitely coming. I'm back at the front of the race, which is nice. In the climbs, I'll push myself as hard as I can. It looks good for the Tour."

The Tour is in everybody's mind, and 2007 winner Alberto Contador joked on the finishing line, "I'm just here as a spectator. I'll see on the Mont Ventoux who takes the initiative." His goal was to lose less than one minute over Evans in the time trial. "It's perfect," he said when he calculated the 37 second difference as the Australian crossed the line.

"The course was too flat for my taste," Contador added. "Until halfway, I was a bit disturbed because I didn't get the feedback in my ear piece. I've done my best with the condition I have right now. My preparation for the Tour de France is going well."

Evans has even more reasons to look satisfied. He was close to winning his second time trial in four days. "I understood I had a good position to win the stage but second is not too bad," the Australian said. He was not bitter to have lost to Grabsch at the end. "In the last 20 kilometres, the bigger you are, the faster you're going to go."

Evans, in fact, is as skinny and fit as a potential Tour de France winner should be seems motivated to not come second at the Dauphiné again. "In the Mont Ventoux, I just want to see how good I can go. Like many other people, I'm interested to find out. I haven't raced in the mountains since the Tour of the Basque country. I came to the Dauphiné with intentions but not with great expectations. Contador in the mountains is normally the man to beat. He'll probably show his intentions tomorrow and later in the week. When you say that you are not here for the win, it's an excuse when you fail."