Add:
Technology in materials & design
Testing in wind tunnels
Less tradition bound - willing to use the geek gear
Popularity of TT oriented mtn biking & triathlon

Greg LeMond's breakthrough TdF tt with the clip-ons an example and further motivator for success in the discipline.

Those were probably his recovery days.

As far as TTing and Americans, perhaps we like the struggle and a sort of perverted affinity with self torture. We likey the pain.

Or perhaps we are just bigger geeks with better disk wheels and pointy hats.

Ron:

Thanks for pointing that out. I had briefly seen the DMD 2006 results, but I didn't make the connection with Metcalfe:

http://www.quackcyclists.com/Dmd06/2006DmdResults.htm

Any comments on Zabriskie's theory about why Americans seem to excel in time trials?

"I have a theory. When Americans start cycling, we usually ride a lot by ourselves, while the Europeans always ride in groups. The Americans are just more used to riding alone."

Sounds plausible to me. Cycling seems like a much more social activity in Europe.

p.s. I have to confess that I doubted Sea Otter, Copperopolis & Wente were the best Spring proving ground for Leipheimer, but I guess he showed today at Mt. Ventoux that our local circuit is good training! :D

Pegman wrote:If you look back in time when Kevin was king I appear to remember that Kevin doubled up before in the district TT's.

He did the Devil Mountain Double just a month and a half ago. I would say the endurance is there.

If you look back in time when Kevin was king I appear to remember that Kevin doubled up before in the district TT's.

If one can climb really well, a lack in ability in flat time trials is mostly psychological and lack of specific preparation.

Given sufficient rest, two flattish time trials of sub one hour length in one day is hard but not as difficult as some of the more challenging road races.

Interesting results... It looks like in several categories the climbers got the better of our local Ullrichs. Marco Hellman, Robert Anderson & Chris Kinney are all sub-50 minute Diablo climbers. How they manage to combine the aerobic climbing speed with the time trial power flat strength into the teeth of a blast furnace headwind, I'll never know, but helmets off to those guys! Great job. Maybe the Ullrich time trial specialists were saving themselves for Sattley next weekend?

Also, unless it's some sort of typo or confusion, it looks like Kevin Metcalfe doubled up and rode two different categories (70km ITT???), getting an excellent time in both cases. That seems a little over the top to me as well.

Patrick

Thanks for posting the results. Next time I will bring my watch so I do not miss my start time.

Thanks for putting on the race.