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Since the event was introduced in
2012 Specialized-lululemon or Velocio-SRAM as they are now
known have not just won but dominated the event both at the
World Championships and throughout the season. This year
instead Rabo Liv comes in at the favourites after a winning
the Crescent World Cup TTT in August.
Despite a number of top European squads not making the trip to
Richmond, all the big team time trial squads are here and it
is shaping up as the most closely contested after Velocio-SRAM
won the last two editions by over one minute.
2014 Results
1 SPECIALIZED-LULULEMON
2 ORICA-AIS +1:17.56
3 ASTANA BEPINK +2:19.64
4 OPTUM P/B KELLY BENEFIT STRATEGIES +2:25.75
5 BOELS DOLMANS CYCLING TEAM +2:26.33
6 UNITEDHEALTHCARE +2:43.80
7 BIGLA CYCLING TEAM +2:55.54
8 TEAM GIANT-SHIMANO +3:45.05
9 HITEC PRODUCTS +4:01.38
10 RUSVELO +4:07.66
11 TIBCO / TO THE TOP +4:10.25
12 BTC CITY LJUBLJANA +4:19.93
13 TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN-PRO-DUO +5:45.82
14 RABO LIV WOMEN +10:05.32
Past Results
2014
1 SPECIALIZED-LULULEMON
2 ORICA-AIS +1:17.56
3 ASTANA BEPINK +2:19.64
4 OPTUM P/B KELLY BENEFIT STRATEGIES +2:25.75
5 BOELS DOLMANS CYCLING TEAM +2:26.33
2013
1 SPECIALIZED-LULULEMON
2 RABOBANK +1:11.09
3 ORICA-AIS +1:33.83
4 RUSVELO +2:02.31
5 MCIPOLLINI GIORDANA +2:18.83
2012
1 TEAM SPECIALIZED-LULULEMON
2 ORICA-AIS +24.19
3 AA DRINK-LEONTIEN.NL +1:59.32
4 RABO WOMEN +2:20.40
5 RUSVELO +2:30.58
The Route
The Contenders
Start list and start order available
here
Rabo Liv
For the first time Rabo come in as the favourites off the back
of a win at the Crescent World Cup, beating pre race
favourites Velocio-SRAM by 26 seconds. After crashing in the
closing kilometres last year and taking a commanding win at
the Crescent World Cup Rabo will be as motivated as ever to
take the world title. Just one change from the winning team in
Sweden with Roxane Knetemann returning from injury to replace
Moniek Tenniglo.
The team is arguably stronger than we saw in Sweden with Anna
Van der Breggen, Shara Gillow, Lucinda Brand, Roxane
Knetemann, Thalita De Jong and Katarzyna Niewiadoma. The 26
second margin in Sweden is a sign of how far they have come
and the ground they have made up.
Velocio-SRAM
The team has won all three World titles but claiming a fourth
will be their biggest challenge yet. The team as it stands is
ending at the end of the season and will want to go out with
another win. Won the short 15.1 kilometre TT at the
Energiewacht Tour back in May but the more recent Crescent
World Cup shows other teams have closed the gap. The team
finished second behind Rabo by 26 seconds and just 3 seconds
ahead of Boels Dolmans after losing a number of their
strongest time trialists to rivals.
With a team that includes ITT World Champion Lisa Brennauer,
Germany Champion Mieke Kroger, Canadian Champion Karol-Ann
Canuel, Alena Amialiusik the champion of Belarus plus another
specialist Trixi Worrack and Barbara Guarischi they will be
fighting for the win even though they may have lost the
favourite tag.
Boels Dolmans
A team that has had an increased focus on the discipline the
past two years and the improvements have been evident. After
finishing fifth last year the team had the third quickest time
at the Crescent World Cup, just 29 seconds behind Rabo. But
more importantly just three seconds behind Velocio-SRAM
setting up a three-way battle for the world title.
The team is headlined by Ellen Van Dijk and Evelyn Stevens who
are both formerly of Velocio-SRAM and are world champions in
the discipline. Both are two of the best against the clock
individually and their experience in the TTT is a big bonus.
Former team pursuit world champion Lizzie Armitstead plus
Chantal Blaak, Christine Majerus and Katarzyna Pawlowska
complete a very strong team.
Wiggle Honda
When the team first arrived the TTT was a big focus but they
never delivered. With a major recruitment drive over the off
season they are now a much bigger force in the discipline.
Track World Champions in the team pursuit Dani King and
Annette Edmondson lead what is a very well rounded squad
including Elisa Longo Borghini, Emilia Fahlin, Audrey Cordon
and Jolien D'hoore who also adds her considerable strength.
The team finished fifth at the Crescent World Cup, 1:31 behind
winners Rabo and still over one minute off the podium. The
team has spent the past week in the US training and will be
looking to challenge for the podium but beating Rabo,
Velocio-SRAM or Boels Dolmans for that podium spot will not be
easy.
Orica-AIS
In the past they have been one of the top three teams but with
major changes they are not anywhere near the major force they
once were. Finished a distant eighth at Crescent World Cup in
a result that last year would have been unthinkable. They are
missing their big engines especially team pursuit World
Champion Melissa Hoskins, who is one of only three people with
medals from the first three editions. Likewise the absence of
Emma Johansson is a big disadvantage to the team and Jessie
MacLean and Nettie Edmondson further deprive the team two of
their former strongest riders in the disciple. Katrin Garfoot
will be the big engine and pursuit specialist Macey Stewart
will be important but their chances of a fourth consecutive
medal are very slim.
Optum and UnitedHealthcare
While unlikely to cause an upset and finish on the podium the
two US domestic teams could finish top five beating out a
number of the bigger European based teams. It is a rare
opportunity to race on US soil against the best in the world
and as well as being a big motivator it is important for their
sponsors. While neither raced at the Crescent World Cup they
finished fourth and sixth respectively in Ponferrada last
year.
Note: Optum crashed in a training ride. Maura Kinsella
(concussion) and Annie Ewart (broken collarbone) are unable to
start leaving the team with four riders. |
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