The 2011 Tour De France continues with a team time trial for stage 2. Cyclists will ride 23 km through the town of Les Essarts. Once an agricultural area, Les Essarts is now partially an industrial area, but the roads the riders will be on are flat and ready for the event. This will be the second time Les Essarts has been involved in the race, previously a stage race in 2005.
In a team time trial, each team rides together with several minutes separating when individual teams start. When a team's fifth racer crosses the finish line his time becomes the team's time. Should a team member fall behind his team, he will receive an individual time.
Philippe Gilbert currently leads the general classification/overall rankings and wears the maillot jaune (yellow jersey). He also leads in stage points for the maillot vert (green jersey), but Cadel Evans, currently in second, will wear it. Gilbert also is the top climber, but third-place holder Thor Hushovd of Boulder, CO-based Team Garmin-Cervelo wears that since Gilbert and Evans already wear special jerseys. Watch for Hushovd in the white jersey with red dots.
Team Garmin-Cervelo and HTC-Highroad with Colorado Springs' own Danny Pate both have a team time of 14 hours, 4 minutes and 51 seconds. Gilbert's Omega Pharma-Lotto leads overall at 14 hours, 4 minutes and 45 seconds.
Tune into VERSUS at 6 a.m. MT for live coverage of the race. NBC will repeat coverage later in the day.
For in-depth coverage of the race, visit out cycling blog, Podium Cafe, and our SB Nation StoryStream.