This race is a one of a kind event, and the best time trial teams (and, well, the other PT teams also) are here to compete between Denmark and Sweden.
It’s raining and race favorites EA are the first to go.
They finish the race in 1h04’55, well together.
The minions follow them, and are already 20 seconds off at the first intermediate chrono.
In the end, they are 1 minute off.
Team UBS seem to do a bit better, but are still 11 seconds slower than EA as they begin to cross the bridge.
But the end of the race is a bit rough for them, and in the end they lose 57 seconds.
Polar seem to be the major threat for the Luxembourgers: they have a 3 seconds advantage at the two time checks.
They also suffer in the finish, notably dropping Bernal, and can’t take the hot seat: they’re 8 seconds behind EA.
Carlsberg is probably more looking at a midtable result on home soil. They’re all decent on the TT bike, but none of them is really excellent.
They lose 1’20 and are last for now.
Indosaat are the same type of team. They’re 34 seconds off Polar at the 2nd time check, having dropped Jurado.
They beat Carlsberg by 8 seconds.
CycleYorkshire is the 1st team to drop riders significantly. With 17 km left to ride, only Oliveira, Hayter, Zukowski, Hansen and Skaarseth are left. They were 26 seconds off at the 2nd time check.
The five end together, 1’01 down.
Jura has been known for their depth and TTT prowess. They d fairly well, 16 seconds off at the 2nd time check.
They’re 38 seconds off at the finish, good for 3rd for now.
Gazelle has depth, but didn’t bring a great TTT unit. One minute off at the 2nd time check, they soon disorganize and finish 1’50 slower than EA.
The Pumas are looking for a midtable result. 7th at the 2nd check (+29’’), they finish in the bunch around 1’ off.
Tinkoff seem to fight for 3rd. In that regard, they are 4 seconds behind Jura at the 2nd check.
They finish 1 seconds behind the Swiss, at +0’38.
No big hope for Rabobank, already 1’16 off on the bridge.
They’re only 4 riders to finish together, 3 minutes behind EA.
It’s quite the same for Xero, 1’03 off for now.
Though they manage to stay together, they still lose 2’47.
ELCO, on the other hand, is working for a podium. They’re 1 second fastest than Jura at the first time check.
Though they nearly caught Xero, it’s not a sign of a particularly great ride. They’re in the same time as Tinkoff.
Sony are in this decent but not great bunch of teams.
They finish 48 seconds off, not good enough for a top 10 sadly.
I don’t think Aker came with any hope of a result here. They’re 1’30 late on the first check.
At 3’53 in the end, they should finish last.
Cedevita are 10th at the 2nd check, 35’’ behind the pace.
They pass Aker, but for them too the end is rough and they finish 1’08 late, out of the top 10.
Lierse aren’t doing that bad, 18’’ art the 1st check, but with only 5 riders and 20 km left.
+0’57 is decent.
Grieg are no TT specialist, and that shows. 1’12 off at the time check, they lose 3’02 in the end.
They’re followed by another nordic team in Gjensidige, who are only 4 and 1’16 off at the bridge.
They end at 1’47, which is quite good in that regard!
Los Pollos Hermanos might challenge a top 5! They’re 17 seconds off at the time check.
Sadly, at +0’43 in the end, they’re out of it.
Fastned has the same possibilities (+18’’ at the time check).
Phinney leads them in a great finish: they’re provisional 3rd, at +0’33, which is 5 seconds faster than Jura.
King Power will want to try and take the lead to the other team in red. 10 seconds off at the first time check is big, but not impossible to take.
They beat Fastned by 14 seconds and should finish 3rd.
Last team to go is Evonik, 26 seconds off on the bridge.
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