'aracer' I cant really be arsed to push this much further
Well don't then – I sighed when I read your post, you seem to have so thoroughly missed the point.
Races go faster in bursts because that's the way road races work (which you quite clearly don't have a clue about). If they really wanted to cover the course as fast as possible, even a 4th cat race could doubtless average high 20s mph.
The fact it's a tandem doesn't change the fact it's a roadified MTB. The only pic I could find of the bloke on the front on a solo MTB didn't work on here, hence that one. Hint: check out the pictures's URL, that might give you a clue who they are and what they've just done – otherwise the other picture is on http://robcrayton.blogspot.com/2009/03/kilotogo-uci-cheshire-cat-2009.html
Re-read my post – I'm saying that the roadies at the front can do at least 26mph for a time trial on their own – they'll be doing rather more when taking turns on the front in a road race (I should know, I was one once).
TdF has some rather big hills, which I might struggle to average 23mph over.
The 23mph I'm claiming is an AVERAGE speed for 10 miles. Not sure why you're so disbelieving – I've also given my road bike speed on that course (not a brilliant course, I've been faster on others), so what do you think I have to gain by making it up?