Just 10 teams made the trip here to Mexico, so when they crack the piñata everyone gets some candy.
TTT specialists Glanbia and SEE Turtles are joined at the top of the favorites list by good at everything specialists Kraftwerk. Glanbia and SEE Turtles were 2nd and 3rd last year behind IESE who are up in the rarefied air of PCT this year. The question is always how much will the climbs impact the outcome.
Glanbia are first on the road. There are two intermediate time checks on the 47k course, the first after 14k the second at the top of the largest climb after 27k. At the first check Glanbia have already shed 3 riders.
The lone PCT outfit at the race are McCormick, they have a different strategy than Glanbia, keeping all 8 rider together as they hit the main climb with about 23k gone. They are 4th at the first time check right now behind Glanbia, Kraftwerk and Euskadi but ahead of Tafjord Kraft and Team Zappes Kölsch. The first 4 separated by just 12 seconds at the first time check, the latter two well back.
Tafjord look well organized as they cross the second check at the top of the climb. But they are 53 seconds down. McCormick had moved ahead of Glanbia at this time check, by 1 second.
Zappes Kölsch are 1’06 down at the second check. Tafjord and Zappes Kölsch seem to be the also rans here as all the other teams have crossed the first time check within 13 seconds of the lead.
Kraftwerk are not far behind the other German team at the 2nd check. Only concern for them is they are beginning to lose riders. Right now, they have a nice cushion as their time is 27 seconds better than McCormick.
That is Sütterlin just hanging on as Euskadi come to the second check. They are second on 23 seconds, 4 seconds up on McCormick.
Moving up to look at finish times Glanbia’s decision to drop to 5 early looks to be a bad one. They are 36 seconds down on McCormick at the finish. McCormick only dropped riders in the last few kilometers. Not a great season so far for the Irish.
Tafjord (+1’32) and Zappes Kölsch (+2’22) are well back at the finish but Kraftwerk stay organized and bring 8 riders home, 23 seconds quicker than McCormick.
Sütterlin recovers to lead Euskadi on the flat final section but they have only 4 riders at the end and are 6 second slower than McCormick good enough for 3rd so far.
All the teams are through the second check with Podium Ambition (+0’13), Euskotren (+0’17) and SEE Turtles (+0’19) sitting 2nd, 3rd and 4th behind Kraftwerk at that check. Parmalat the other team still on course, they were +0’39 (8th) at the 2nd check.
Euskotren are the next home, but guys, you forgot someone.
The next two riders cross maybe 15 to 30 seconds later but clearly, they lost rhythm in the last segment as they lose 1’22 on Kraftwerk in the last segment dropping them into 6th among the current finishers, faster only than Zappes Kölsch.
A lot more organization from the SEE Turtles as they cross the bridge just before the finish. Not a great segment for them but good enough to hold 3rd at the moment, +0’25.
Podium Ambition are the last team with a shot at the win and they bring a group of 5 to the finish (although the other 3 aren’t far behind).
And their many fans who have made the short trip to Mexico to support them get a huge thrill as their time goes up – 1st place, 23 seconds faster than Kraftwerk. They must have timed their effort to perfection – a huge last segment sees the make up 36 seconds on the men in ties. Only Parmalat left on the course.
3k left for the outsiders as the cameras find them. They still look well organized we have seen some great last segments.
No upset for them, they finish 1 minute down, 6th place.
A big win for Podium Ambition in the Monterrey TTT. They also won in 2023. The last 5 editions of this race have all been won by Podium Ambition or IESE.
Monterrey TTT 
