Millar predicts tight battle in Tour time trial

BESANCON, France (AFP) –

Britain’s David Millar competes in the individual time-trial and prologue of the 2012 Tour de France cycling race running around Liege, Belgium, on June 30. Millar endured a “terrible” time on the first of two long Tour de France time trials Monday as the battle for yellow jersey supremacy continued.

Britain’s David Millar endured a “terrible” time on the first of two long Tour de France time trials Monday as the battle for yellow jersey supremacy continued.

Millar, a former world champion in the discipline, was 44th from the remaining 178-strong field to start and complete the 41.5 km race from Arc-et-Senans to Besancon.

But, with a time of 55min 38sec, he was far behind the 54:09 set by Dutchman Lieuwe Westra, and with most of the specialists and yellow jersey men still to race.

Feeling “good” before the start, Millar soon found the power he was counting on had deserted him. He almost collapsed at the finish line.

“I was hoping to go a lot better than I just did. I felt terrible out there. The disappointment continues,” said Millar, whose crash-hit Garmin team have endured one of their toughest campaigns on the race ever.

“I had nothing out there. That doesn’t happen very often. It’s not good when you feel good but you go bad.

“I didn’t feel tired today, that’s what’s disappointing. But I just didn’t have the power. I near collapsed when I crossed the line.”

Yellow jersey holder Bradley Wiggins of Britain is last off the start ramp at 1639 local time, with defending champion Cadel Evans starting three minutes earlier.

Before they race, Wiggins holds a 10sec lead on the Australian but Millar expects the race’s general classification to be shaken up.

He said the climb in the middle of the race is harder than most believe.

“It’s actually harder than the profile shows,” added the Scot, who nonetheless did not preview the course beforehand.

“It’s steep, I didn’t expect it to be that steep. It’s a really good course for the guys who can climb and time trial, (Chris) Froome, Wiggo and Cadel.”

Millar believes, however, former four-time world time trial champion Fabian Cancellara will prevail ahead of Germany’s reigning world champion Tony Martin.

“I’m going to go for Fabian, because he just looks awesome at the moment. Tony Martin’s going to surprise a few people as well, even with a broken wrist.”