The showdown! All things being equal (and even with a few inequalitites) the individual time trial should provide a great spectacle at the end of a gruelling three weeks - Armstrong thrives in this race against the clock, and his dominance is well documented. But if we have a situation like 2003, this could be the clincher for the leader going into the stage, or it could provide the challenger with a whisker of hope. Here's hoping the weather stays fine and we get Ullrich out firing and witness Basso's improvement in time trialling, which has also been well-documented. The distance suits Armstrong, but the undulating terrain suits Ullrich's ability to push the big gears and power along. A surprise may be in the works, but chances are it'll come down to these two, regardless of where they are on GC - but it's also likely they'll both be at the pointy end of the field.
Start order
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US Cyclocross Nationals: Dominant Henry Coote solos to second consecutive U23 men’s title
Jack Spranger takes second and Ryan Drummond third in Fayetteville -
US Cyclocross Nationals: Makena Kellerman holds off Kaya Musgrave to win U23 women’s title
Pan-American U23 women's champion Mia Aseltine is third in Fayetteville, Arkansas -
US Cyclocross Nationals: Kira Mullins powers away on final lap to win women junior 17-18 title
Tessa Beebe takes second place, and Ada Watson is third in Fayetteville, Arkansas -
Tadej Pogačar eyes Paris-Roubaix victory and historic fifth Tour de France title as focal points of confirmed 2026 racing programme
World Champion chasing a fifth yellow jersey to equal the sport's greats alongside Miguel Induráin, Bernard Hinault, Eddy Merckx, and Jacques Anquetil
