A Team Time Trial will work as an opener for the 2010 Worlds - and although there are no jerseys to be won, it is an opportunity for more riders to be crowned World Champion than previously, while there are a number of top nations who are expected to compete for victory. It also provides the Individual Time Trialists an opportunity to scout out the course, ahead of their solo efforts.
Firstly, lets run through all the teams.
Australia are first off, including Rogers, Evans and Ford
Cornu is the figurehead for Belgium, but the likes of De Gendt, Goddaert and Vandewalle provide a strong support
Canada will be led by Wikipedia rider Christian Meier
China are the control team, they do have a decent time trialist in Haijun Ma
Rigoberto Uran will be key for the Colombian team
While Czech Republic will show a similar dependence upon Roman Kreuziger
The Danish team is led by Bak, Vandborg and Steensen
Coppel leads a France team, with Bouet and Rolland also being important
The Germans look strong, with the likes of Fothen, Lang, Schumacher, Keinath and Kittel
Theres no real strand out for Italy, but they could benefit from a team of similarily skilled riders, such as Pinotti, Quinziato, Di Luca, Pozzoivvo and Cunego
Lithuania can call on 2 ProTour riders, in Stundzia and Navardauskas
Clesen and Kirchen are the strongest time trialists for Luxembourg
Netherlands have fielded a very strong team - including Dekker, Boom, Van Winden, Flens, Reus, Elijzen and Keizer
Paulinho will lead the Portugese effort
Trofimov, Menchov, Gusev and Ignatiev will hope to lead Russia to a strong performance
Slovenia field the smallest team - their selecter opting for the minimum 6 riders - but within those 6 are Brajkovic and Spilak
Here are Spain, Plaza, Intxausti, Gutierrez Palacios, Lloret and Contador are amongst the top time trailists involved here.
Larsson, Johansson and Lovkvist are Sweden's best riders
With no Popovych, Ukraine's leader here is Grivko
Switzerland may also struggle with the loss of their top rider - Cancellara will be missed
Wiggins and Stannard will lead the British team
Last year's World ITT Champion Zabriskie will lead the effort for USA, alongside the likes of Phinney, Donald, Zirbel and Jacques-Maynes
The last team to start are the home nation, Venezuela, who will be led by Rujano and Franklin Chacon
Through the first check, the race was set up for an intriguing battle. Netherlands lead, but Spain trail by just 3 seconds - with USA only 1 further second back. Russia clocked 4th, 15 seconds behind, with Germany at 24, Belgium at 26, United Kingdom at 29, and both France and Italy at 30.
Netherlands continued their push through the middle half of the course, and come the 2nd checkpoint they lead again. Spain are sticking close though, remaining within 6 seconds.
USA have already fallen back, down to 4th at 28 seconds - while Belgium climb 3 spots to 3rd, at 23 seconds - they gained time on their Dutch neighbours between the 2 checkpoints. Germany remain 5th at 33 seconds, while Russia fell to 6th at 45 seconds.
Fallers include United Kingdom (7th to 11th), Sweden (11th to 16th), Switzerland (12th to 18th) and Slovenia (15th to 23rd) - while climbing up are Australia (18th to 9th) and Canada (22nd to 13th).
But there is plenty of time for this to change before the finish.
Belgium were starting to see Australia ahead of them in the closing stages, and while Australia were the first to finish, Belgium beat them by a whole minute and 28 seconds
Canada and China finished over 2 minutes behind Belgium, while Colombia went 4 seconds quicker than Australia. Czech Republic and Denmark were 2 more to be over 2 minutes down, other Denmark were only just so, taking a provisional 4th.
We hear news from out on circuit that 2 captures have taken place. Netherlands have caught Luxembourg
While Spain have swept past Slovenia
France meanwhile have become the first team to finish less than a minute behind Belgium, at 54 seconds. But here come the Germans. They were 10 seconds behind Belgium at the 2nd split, but with Lang and Fothen leading them over, they take the lead! They are 8 seconds faster
Italy go 3rd, 42 seconds behind Germany, while Lithuania are way down, ahead only of Czech Repiblic and China
Next in are Netherlands, having passed Luxembourg, and they duly take the lead. They go 24 seconds faster than Germany, with Dekker leading them over
Portugal go marginally ahead of of Lithuania as Russia go 3rd, 1'14 behind Netherlands, and just 3 seconds ahead of Italy - the Russians appear to have started too fast today, and that cost them later on.
Now then, its time for Spain. Trailing Netherlands at the checks - but always close - it is the Festina pair of Contador and Castano on front as we cross the line - and theyve gone first!!! A 6 second disadvantage has become a 5 second advantage, and the Spaniards look to be taking the Gold medals here.
Not only were Slovenia passed by Spain, they ended up a whole kilometre behind them, They finish behind Czech Republic, but just ahead of China
Sweden and Switzerland finish just under 3 minutes behind Spain, with Sweden ahead of Switzerland, who are also behind Canada - Sweden may however be dissapointed to be just 3 seconds behind Luxembourg and 5 behind Denmark.
Portugal go 3 seconds slower than Switzerland - this time just over the 3 minute mark behind, but at least ahead of the next finishers Ukraine.
United Kingdom turn around a weaker middle section to make the Top 10, finishing 8th, just over 2 minutes down, but should they glance behind them they would see the Americans rounding the final bend into view. They looked an early threat for victory, but now face a battle for a medal - but led in by Donald and Zabriskie, theyve put in a strong finish and take a comfortable 3rd, 20 seconds behind Spain
Venezuela are last to finish, and they take a respectable 12th.
But stunning the Dutch team, Spain are this years TTT World Champions! Contador, Castano, Gutierrez Palacios, Intxausti, Lloret, Pereiro, Plaza, Tenorio and Valverde
