The Race of Truth becomes a non-event...or is it?

The Tour de France is about to reach it's climax for 2012. Today's stage, a 53.5km time trial, is the last before the grand race makes it way into Paris and the finale on the famous Champs Elysees.

There has been much criticism of Tour director Christian Prudhomme and his choice of route for this year's tour. In particular his placement of the first time trial prior to the mountain stages suggesting that there would have been more action in the Alps to gain time going into a time trial.

Everyone knows that Wiggins has an unbelievable talent for the time trial. And with positioning the first time trial before the climbs no doubt played into his hands more than any other this year.

But, the thing is each team has an opportunity to bring with them their game plan into the tour, knowing full well the race routes, layouts and opposition strengths and weaknesses. They prepare their teams accordingly to their own strengths and have detailed strategic plans on what their aims and goals will be.

Yes, possibly repositioning the first time trial may have resulted in a different race with teams attacking to gain a time advantage over the likes of Wiggins and Evans knowing what they are capable of in the time trial, but...

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and this year's tour has played out and cannot be changed. What is known though, is that the last time trial on the penultimate day of racing is most likely going to be a non-event.

Evans is out of contention. Nibali unfortunatley doesn't race well against the clock. Van den Broeck is too far down to make have an impact. Even the master time triallists are no longer in the race (Cancellara and Martin) to make for a decent showing.

The only thing would be interesting, provided he was let off the leash, would be the potential performance of Christoper Froome.

Froome showed in the first time trial that he quite capable of an amazing performance. Surely Sky will tell him to give it all he has got? He is just over two minutes behind Wiggins, so is no threat to taking the jersey, but I'm sure many would love to see Froome ''beat" Wiggins, but would team Sky?

I for one would love to see Froome given the opportunity at least, otherwise yes indeed this race of truth will be a non-event.

Would you love to see Froome take on Wiggins tonight?