| |
Etixx-QuickStep won the first two
editions in 2012 and 2013, with BMC taking the title last year
making Peter Velits the only rider to be part of all three
winning world championship squads.
All 17 World Tour teams are here with the rest of the field
mostly made up by smaller US squads with the majority of
European teams electing not to make the trip to the US.
2014 Results
1 BMC RACING TEAM
2 ORICA GREENEDGE +31.84
3 OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP +35.22
4 TEAM SKY +37.29
5 TINKOFF-SAXO +46.59
6 MOVISTAR TEAM +51.37
7 TREK FACTORY RACING +1:01.47
8 TEAM GIANT-SHIMANO +1:26.60
9 CANNONDALE +1:28.56
10 GARMIN +1:44.80
11 FDJ.FR +2:05.08
12 ASTANA PRO TEAM +2:12.38
13 TEAM KATUSHA +2:14.35
14 BELKIN +2:28.16
15 LAMPRE-MERIDA +2:30.08
16 RUSVELO +2:44.81
17 TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN-BALOISE +2:45.29
18 CCC +3:36.90
19 TEAM EUROPCAR +3:52.06
20 AG2R LA MONDIALE +4:05.91
21 WANTY-GROUPE GOBERT +4:07.49
22 LOTTO +4:11.15
23 CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS +4:29.70
24 KOLSS CYCLING TEAM +4:57.99
25 MG KVIS-WILIER +5:36.95
26 RABOBANK DEVELOPMENT TEAM +6:01.11
27 ADRIA MOBIL +6:12.23
28 BDC MARCPOL +6:51.56
29 TEAM ECUADOR +8:08.46
Past Results
2014
1 BMC RACING TEAM
2 ORICA GREENEDGE +31.84
3 OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP +35.22
4 TEAM SKY +37.29
5 TINKOFF-SAXO +46.59
2013
1 OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP
2 ORICA GREENEDGE +0.81
3 SKY PROCYCLING +22.55
4 BMC RACING TEAM +1:02.71
5 RADIOSHACK LEOPARD +1:17.53
2012
1 OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP
2 BMC RACING TEAM +3.23
3 ORICA GREENEDGE +47.06
4 LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE +1:04.73
5 RABOBANK +1:08.13
The Route
The Contenders
Start list and start order available
here
BMC
After missing out in 2012 by just three seconds BMC took their
revenge last year with a commanding 32 second win over
Orica-GreenEDGE and 35 seconds over Etixx-QuickStep. The
defence of their title is a big target for the team and they
bring a very strong squad headlined by on form Rohan Dennis,
the returning Taylor Phinney and IP World Champion Stefan
Kueng, who are joined by Silvan Dillier, Daniel Oss and Manuel
Quinziato who were all part of the winning squad last year.
After winning the TTT at the Tour de France and also taking
the opening Vuelta TTT it is very hard to look past them going
back to back. The team is missing Tejay Van Garderen with
injury and Peter Velits the only rider with three world titles
is also a non selection. For a US team the rare opportunity to
race a World Championships on home roads should give them even
more motivation.
Orica-GreenEDGE
Since the inception of the team the TTT has been a huge focus
for the team and they have won the TTT at the Tour de France
in 2013 and the Giro the past two years. Two changes for the
team with Michael Matthews and Sam Bewley replacing Brett
Lancaster and Damien Howson. Often forgotten is that Matthews
is an exceptionally strong time trialist, while Bewley has a
team pursuit background. The loss of Lancaster's experience
however could be detrimental to their chances.
The team won the Giro TTT this year, second in the TTT at the
Tour de Romandie, 5th at the Critérium du Dauphiné and more
recently second at the Tour of Alberta. Their loss in Alberta
should have motivated them further after they were expected to
win comfortably.
Etixx-QuickStep
After winning the first two editions they slipped to third
last year but will be looking to get back on top. Like BMC and
Orica there are two changes with Yves Lampaert and Rigoberto
Uran replacing Julien Vermote and Pieter Serry in the six-man
team.
With the strength of Tony Martin combined with Niki Terpstra,
Tom Boonen, Michal Kwiatkowski, Rigoberto Uran and Yves
Lampaert they are certain to mount a strong challenge to BMC.
The team hasn't seemed as strong in the discipline this year
but every time it counts the team performs at their best.
Movistar
Movistar bring a very strong team including British and
Commonwealth Games Champion Alex Dowsett, Spanish Champion
Jonathan Castroviejo and Italian Champion Adriano Malori. The
trio are joined by Andrey Amador, Jasha Sutterlin and Jon
Izaguirre making a formidable squad on paper. The team
finished sixth last year but importantly just 20 seconds off
the podium.
It will be a big ask for the Spanish team to beat the likes of
BMC, Etixx and Orica for the podium spots but they could be
the best of the rest. Finished third at the Tour de France
just four seconds behind BMC.
Tinkoff-Saxo
Tinkoff-Saxo is a team that could spring a surprise. Three
time world champion Michael Rogers, second place in the Vuelta
ITT Maciej Bodnar, strong time trialists Manuele Boaro and
Christopher Juul Jensen all provide strength and with Peter
Sagan and Michael Valgren it is a very well rounded squad.
Finished just seven seconds behind Orica-GreenEDGE at the
Giro, although it was over a course than was less than half
the distance and then finished fourth at the Tour. Claiming a
spot on the podium will not be an easy ask but expect a strong
result.
Also keep an eye on Astana and Giant-Shimano. Unlikely to
trouble the big name TTT teams but will be worth seeing how
they perform.
Note: Sky crashed during a training ride with Danny Pate, Elia
Viviani and Luke Rowe all going down heavily. |
|
