TdF Stage 13: Vinokourov strikes back!

Kazakh Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) was hurting yesterday and he went into today's stage hoping to just make it to Paris. Vinokourov found his legs in the 54 kilometer individual time trial today and blew away the competition, coming in more than 7 minutes faster than second place Cadel Evans (Predictor-Lotto). The look of determination on his face was amazing as he pushed himself hard. He showed he wanted it and he got it.

"I am happy with my performance," said Vinokourov after his run on the rainy road. "I am finding my legs again. Now I want to attack in the Pyrénées. I want to thank everyone in and around the team that gave me the encourage to get through the Alps."

Way to go, Vino! It's good to see him find his legs. With today's stage win, Vinokourov moves into the top 10 of the General Classification. Michael Rasmussen, who placed 11th today, retains the yellow jersey.

What a race! With just another week to go, the 2007 Tour de France is still anybody's to win. Here's Levi Leipheimer tearing it up to make ninth place in the ITT today.
More coverage:

• Spare Cycles: Stage 13 with that great photo of Vino's raw determination chiseled into his face with spittle running down his chin.

  Early rain saw many riders finish with wet and bloody skinsuits. Cancellara put in a good early time check but quickly fell from the standings after he crashed and appeared to hurt his arm. Wiggins instead had the top early mark on the day, which stood until Vinokourov put in a shockingly fast TT: 2:13 faster than Wiggins. Gusev was putting in a good time until he crashed into a roundabout and went skidding over the curb.

• Group News Blog The race of truth. An hour of pain and oxygen debt.
  
• TdFBlog gets all alliterative with the title Astana awesome in Albi.
  
• Tour de France For the Rest of Us: Vino's back.
  
• TdF07: Vinokourov Wins ITT, Rasmussen Not a Disaster.

  Today’s rain soaked Individual Time Trial was remarkable not so much for the fine performances put in by Vinokourov, Evans and Kloden, but for the meltdown that did not appear. Michael Rasmussen was widely considered vulnerable in the yellow jersey because of his self professed dificulty in the ITT, which was highlighted by his disastrous performance in the the Tour in 2005 which lost him a spot on the podium. But while Rasmussen’s 11th place finish today lost him a few precious minutes to Vinokourov, Kloden and Evans, it was not the disaster that was feared or expected.

• And speaking of expectations....
• Pez Cycling News: Vino improves with age
  
• [Land of colors] 雨の中、勝ったのは、ビノクロフ.

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Stage 13 Top 10

1. Alexander Vinokourov (Kz), Astana, 54km in 1:06:35
2. Cadel Evans (Aus), Predictor-Lotto, at 1:14
3. Andréas Klöden (G), Astana, at 1:39
4. Andrey Kashechkin (Kz), Astana, at 1:44
5. Bradley Wiggins (GB), Cofidis, at 2:14
6. Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr), Discovery Channel, 2:16
7. Alberto Contador (Sp), Discovery Channel, 2:18
8. Sylvain Chavanel (F), Cofidis, 2:38
9. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Discovery Channel, 2:39
10. Mikel Astarloza (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 2:42

GC Rankings

1. Michael Rasmussen (Dk), Rabobank, 58:46:39
2. Cadel Evans (Aus), Predictor-Lotto, at 1:00
3. Alberto Contador (Sp), Discovery, at 2:31
4. Andréas Klöden (G), Astana, at 2:34
5. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Discovery Channel, at 3:37
6. Andrey Kashechkin (Kz), Astana, at 4:23
7. Carlos Sastre (Sp), CSC, at 4:45
8. Mikel Astarloza (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 5:07
9. Alexander Vinokourov (Kz), Astana, at 5:10
10. Kim Kirchen (Lux), T-Mobile, at 5:29