There are three big favourites for the time trial today. Tour de l'Avenir winner Taylor Phinney, who took the ITT in the French race; Martijn Keizer, who was just 8 seconds behind Phinney there; and Marcel Kittel, the German who did not ride in Avenir.
Cameron Meyer was the first rider to finish, but Wen Hao Li beat his time by 48 seconds
It wasnt long though before Sergio Luis Henao Montoya - beating Li by 41 seconds
Jakub Danacik went 3rd - just 1 second behind Li
But another of the early starters was Marcel Kittel, who storms into the lead, 1'43 ahead of the Colombian
Tim Dees rode well in the Avenir TT, but will be dissapointed to finish today nearly 3 minutes behind Kittel
William Ford fared better, but misses out on a provisional podium - being 2 seconds behind Li, and 1 behind Danacik - to go 5th
Van Garderen surprised with a strong early checkpoint, but he predictably faded to just behind Dees at the finish
Jan Ghyselinck goes 6th, just 2 seconds behind Ford, and therefor only 4 seconds behind current 3rd placed Li
Andre Steensen is next - and he actually set the fastest time of the day at the first checkpoint. Comparitively, Kittel was 6th there, also behind rivals Keizer and Phinney - but Kittel clearly turned it on after that for he currently holds the leading time at the 2nd check, aswell as the Finish. Back to Steensen, and although he takes 2nd for now - he is 1'13 behind Kittel. Too fast too soon it seems.
Kittel's fellow German Lucas Schadlich goes 3rd, 1'27 behind.
Next is Martijn Keizer. Ahead of Kittel at the first check, just a slender 5 seconds behind at the second. Its going to very tight - very tight indeed. Just 1 second separates them! But sadly for Keizer, Kittel remains the leader, as the Dutchman goes 2nd
Next in of note is Justo Tenorio, looking to challenge Steensen's time. He is close, but falls 3 seconds off, taking provisional 4th, 1'16 behind Kittel
Now for Taylor Phinney, the last rider to start (although not the last to finish having passed Ben Swift). But it is a dissapointing ride for Phinney today, consistently slower than Keizer - and after the first check - Kittel aswell. It will only be 3rd for Phinney, 27 seconds behind
So after Swift finishes, taking 18th, that is the end of the race. Accumalux' Marcel Kittel triumphs over Wikipedia's Martijn Keizer - by just 1 second! Phinney will have to try again next year.
