David Millar gets a standout bike for the time trial (photo © www.theroaddiaries.com)

David Millar (Team Garmin) rode a strong individual time trial on stage four of the 2008 Tour de France, placing third behind a flying Stefan Schumacher, who finished 18 seconds ahead. The result pushed Millar up into third on General Classification.

Millar chasing hard for a good time

David Millar blasting through the French countryside

Millar has been reborn since coming back to professional road racing following the two year ban he served for EPO use, and with Team Garmin Chipotle (formally Slipstream), Millar appears to be in a buoyant mood. And he has everyone reason to be. He’s leading a strong team that lists such riders as Magnus Backstedt and Julian Dean as well as many talented young riders, there’s the big corporate sponsor and on top of all that opportunity; the team has made a big impact in the opening stages of the race, with much more to come.

The Garmin team ride Felt bikes, and for the TT David Millar rode the manufacturer’s striking DA model. It’s the company’s top-end time trial bike and its full carbon monocoque frame has been modelled in a wind tunnel, so Millar knows he’s got one of the fastest bikes in the peloton. To increase aerodynamic efficiency at the front of the bike, Felt’s Bayonet fork allows the head tube area to be much more aero profiled than might normally be possible, and with the heavily sculpted fork and all the cables internally routed thought the top of the top tube, there’s minimal clutter to cause drag.

Millar’s bike, painted in white and black, rides on Zipp wheels, with a 1080 on the front and an Sub9 on the back, complete with Zipp Argyle decals and huge Union Jack decals as well. You’d be sure not to miss Millar riding towards you with that setup.

With title sponsor Garmin, each riders bike is wearing a specially painted Garmin Edge 705 for each stage, which allows us a little insight into the speeds these riders are achieving daily. For example, we know that Millar rode stage four’s 18.24 mile time trial at an average of 30.3 mph and 47.6 mph max. His time of 36.02 placed him third on the stage and bumped him to third on General Classification. Interestingly, while not getting the win he undoubtedly set out to achieve, he did place ahead of the big tip for the stage, Fabian Cancellara.

www.feltracing.com