Record Speed for Dennis!

Australia's Rohan Dennis had the ride of his life today.  In fact, he set the record for the greatest average speed in a Tour de France time trial.  Check out Dennis navigating the streets of Utrecht after about 5 km (3.1 mi) of today's time trial (click on the image for a larger view).

Rohan Dennis flew around turns in the perfect Dutch weather.  What an amazing record-setting ride!  I grabbed a screen capture of Dennis as he powered his way to the finish line to become the only rider inside a quarter hour (click on the image for a larger view).

Dennis was an aerodynamic thing of beauty on his bicycle.  Our prediction was much too slow, as seen below.

• Stage 1:  14' 56" (actual), 16' 38" (prediction), 01' 42" slow (11.38% error)

We're not happy with our first prediction, but it was hard not feeling anything but awe while watching today's first stage.  Check out the winner's average speed below.

• Stage 1:  15.40 m/s (55.45 kph or 34.45 mph)

I can't image going that fast on a bike, much less doing it for 15 minutes.  Great ride, Rohan Dennis!

Tomorrow's 166-km (103-mi) flat stage picks up in Utrecht and heads southwest in the Netherlands to the artificial island of Neeltje Jans.  Below is our prediction.

• Stage 2:  3h 45' 51" (prediction)

If we are much too slow tomorrow, we'll have to rethink how much cyclists and their equipment have improved over last year.