The longest day! Well not actually in time or distance, but in commentary terms it was a slow day. We always get one day or another in the Tour de France when there is a breakaway which gets clear and survives to the end.

When the six-man breakaway got clear, there was no way they would ever be seen again. None of the break was a threat, and it was convenient to everyone -- climbers, sprinters and GC men alike.

Juan Miguel Mercado got his win in a well timed sprint, and the main field cruised in more than eleven minutes later. It was a normal day for the eve of the final time trial showdown.

I am now waiting with impatience to see who rides well in this final test. Why, you might ask? One reason, Jan Ullrich has in his six participations in this race never finished lower than second. Tomorrow, I think he has the ability to get onto the podium again, and with the best TT of his life he could still get second.

Rendezvous then for 55 kilometers of truth.