NBC Sports Tour de France 2012: Riders to Watch for in Monday's Time Trial

The 2012 Tour de France will continue on Monday with a 41.5-kilometer individual time trial.

This is Stage 9 of the race, and with a rest day coming on Tuesday, it will be important for riders to build some momentum heading into the break. The action will start in Arc-et-Senans and finish in Besançon. Click here for a map of the route.

As usual, NBC Sports will have the television coverage. Here is everything you need to know about the TV info, as well as some riders to keep your eye on.

Date: Monday, July 9

Start Time: 8 a.m. ET

TV Coverage: NBC Sports

Riders to Watch

Bradley Wiggins - (Britain, Team Sky)

You'll definitely want to watch Wiggins, the current holder of the yellow jersey.

Wiggins is looking to be the first Brit ever to win the Tour de France, and with a strong performance in Monday's trial, he can gain some separation from the riders that are hot on his trail.

Wiggins has been excellent in 2012, winning the Paris-Nice in March and Criterium du Dauphine in June. If he can continue his success in the coming weeks, he will add an even more impressive accomplishment to that list. 

Cadel Evans (Australia, BMC Racing)

The defending champion finished second in Stage 8, his second consecutive day with such a result. If he can put together a solid performance on Monday, he can close the gap on Wiggins, who currently holds a 10-second lead.

Evans was unimpressive in his races leading up to the Tour, but it appears he's finally back on track. If the 35-year-old can pull off the victory, he will become the second-oldest rider to ever win the Tour de France.

Denis Menchov (Russia, Katusha)

Menchov is currently sitting in fifth place, and he's 54 seconds behind the leader Wiggins. With the race now in the mountains, Menchov has a great opportunity to win the race.

He finished second at the 2010 Tour de France, and he's picked up victories in two Vuelta de Espanas (2005, 2007) and one in the Giro d'Italia (2009).

If he has a strong time trial on Monday, Menchov will be exactly where he needs to be heading into the second half of the race.