The time trial is here. It’s the penultimate day of Volta a Portugal, and the riders wakes up to 30 kilometers of individual racing. Today is the day most expert expect Sanchez
to take the overall lead from Pellizotti
Sanchez is tipped as one of the stage favourites, together with Larsson Bodnar
The weather conditions are decent, it’s cloudy and 15 degrees in the morning, a perfect day for the race against the truth.
Kovalev
is one of the outsiders for today’s stage win, and he’s off early in the morning. He starts well, going through the time check 16 kilometers in 23’09, which is by far the best time, more than 2 minutes faster than the first starter of the day, Claes
Mouris
is first to challenge Kovalev’s opening. He can’t quite make it, crossing the time check in 23’24, 15 seconds behind in provisional second place.
Kovalev
storms to the finish, finishing in an impressive 42’32. Have we seen the stage winner out this early? It’s certainly an extremely strong time, but it’s hard to tell this early if it will hold up against the late starters.
Dillier
the talented Swiss, can’t hold on to Kovalev’s pace around the course, and he crosses the finish line in 44’05, which is a current second place at the finish.
Mouris
has also had a good ride today, he hasn’t lost much to Kovalev on the final 14 kilometers, crossing the finish line in 42’57, good enough for a provisional 2 nd, 25 seconds behind Kovalev.
Viennet
is just like Dillier a young chrono man, hoping to develop to one of the better in the cycling sport. He’s a good way off the pace of Kovalev, crossing the line in provisional 3rd, 1’13 behind Kovalev, at 43’45.
De Greef
was unlucky when the tough stages were about to start here in Portugal, loosing lots of time early in the race. He’s somewhat back to his game today, crossing the time check at 23’40, which is 31 seconds slower than Kovalev in a provisional 4th.
De Greef can’t quite mix it though, as he crosses the finish line in provisional 5th with a time of 43’23, 51 seconds slower than Kovalev. He’s just behind Meersman, 43’21 Lima, 43’13
Bodnar
is the first real challenge to Kovalev’s time, and he’s fast! He blitzes through the time check in 23’00, 7 seconds faster than Kovalev.
Bodnar
is the fastest at the finish aswell, flushing Kovalev’s dream of a stage win down the toilet. 42’14 is 17 seconds faster, and it gives him a good lead going into 70 best overall riders.
Oliveira
is a good Portuguese time trialist, who might be a potential stage winner of a time trial in Volta a Portugal, a few years later, but not today. His time is good though, 43’01 is good enough for a provisional 4th at the finish, 47 seconds behind Bodnar.
Sestili
is another rider from Venchi having a good ride today. He was only 1 second behind Bodnar and he thunders into the final 5000 meters of this individual ride. He keeps his speed, but is just late! 42’19 is only 5 seconds slower, but at least he makes it a provisional 1-2 for Venchi!
De Maar
is another strong rider looking to do good today, and he arrives the final kilometers in a good TT position. He’s strong, but not strong enough, and 42’56 is 42 seconds slower than Bodnar, which means he has to settle for a provisional 4th place.
Costa
had an absolutely outstanding prologue on day 1 here in Portugal, and he looks determined for another strong performance today. And this is a man on a mission today too! He rides through the time check in 22’58, 2 seconds faster than Bodnar. Will we have another popular home win on a time trial?
He motors to the finish line, can he make a new best time? He certainly can! 42’00 shaves Bodnar’s time with 13 seconds, and a strong lead.
Rolland
sat 16th on the overall before today’s time trial. Being a time trial specialist, he must fancy his chances to advance, and his first 16 kilometers are outstanding! 22’44 is 14 seconds faster than Costa, and it should prove a tough time to beat.
Sicard
was 8th overall before today, and he’s looking to give this his best. He goes through the time check in 23’06, which is a provisional 5th, only 22 seconds off Rolland’s time.
Krasnoperov
will look to defend his 7th overall today, as it will be tough to take the time needed on Larsson and Paulinho. He has good control on Sicard on the first time check, crossing it in 22’58, which is 14 seconds slower than Rolland, good enough for a provisional 3rd.
Rolland
catches his 2 minutes man, Duenas Nevado, on the line, but that’s of no importance. The crowd looks towards the screen, and they see Rolland takes the lead! 41’49 is 10 seconds better than Costa, can he win the stage?
Larsson
wants to have a say about the stage win, and he goes through the time check in a new best time. 22’42 is 2 seconds faster than Rolland.
Portuguese champion Paulinho
will look to defend his 5th overall today, and going through the time check he controls Larsson pretty well. He has only lost 20 seconds, 23’03 is good enough for a provisional 7th.
Castano
hopes to beat Eastman today, both on the stage and on the overall ranking. He has 8 seconds to make up, and goes through the time check in 22’59, 18 seconds behind Larsson, which is a provisional 5th.
Eastman
on the other hand needs to defend. He looks determined to do just that, and he goes through the time check in 23’10, which is 11 seconds slower than Castano. Not a good start for his hopes of keeping 3rd overall.
Sanchez
must be motivated today. He can bring a huge win to his Portuguese team, and his start is good! He flies through the time check in provisional 3rd, 22’49 is 7 seconds slower than Larsson.
Pellizotti
knows he has to do the time trial of his life today, if he’s going to hold off Sanchez. A time of 23’42 is nowhere good enough on the time check, it’s 54 seconds slower than Sanchez, meaning Sanchez is in provisional yellow!
Sicard
sprints for the line, knowing he’ll most likely sit 8th overall before tomorrow’s hilly stage. He comes home in 42’25, a provisional 5th place, 36 seconds slower than Rolland.
Krasnoperov
does a good time trial, riding home in 42’10, which is a very good 3rd on the provisional list, only 21 seconds behind Rolland.
Larsson
holds the best time on the time check, but not by much. But he’s able to hang on, 41’40 is 8 seconds faster than Rolland, and the provisional lead.
Paulinho
is rallied home by the Portuguese crowd, will he be able to defend his 5 th place overall? He definitely will, 42’14 is only 34 seconds slower than Larsson, and a provisional 6th.
Castano
looked good compared to Eastman on the time check, and he keeps momentum, blasting home in 42’11, good enough for a provisional 5th.
It isn’t Eastman’s
best day on the time trial bike. He’s desperately trying to gear up in the final kilometers to hold off Castano in the fight for third overall ahead of tomorrow’s stage. But it isn’t meant to be, 42’31 is 20 seconds slower than Castano and a provisional 11th.
Sanchez
is giving it everything! He knows this is his chance to grab the yellow jersey, and he surely wants it with as many seconds as possible. 41’52 is good enough for a provisional 3rd place, 12 seconds behind Larsson. Is it enough for the yellow jersey?
Pellizotti
digs deep to defend himself, but it isn’t enough. The clock is ticking too fast, and he crosses the line in 43’27, 1’47 behind Larsson. More importantly, he’s 1’35 behind Sanchez, which means he suddenly needs to take 52 seconds on Sanchez tomorrow to defend last year’s overall win here in Portugal.
