Nations do battle in the discipline of the Team Time Trial for the 2nd season, after a very tight inaugural race last year - Spain beating Netherlands by 5 seconds. Netherlands are down as favourites here, but with the route being 1 lap of the road race course, Spain may be tough to beat with the climbs factored in.
Australia are first out, but Belgium - with Cornu at the helm - are 16 seconds up already by the first check
Colombia and Italy are 6 seconds down on Belgium at the first check, France are 12 down - while Germany, with the likes of Fothen, Schumacher, Kittel and Lang, equal Belgium's time
A couple of surprisingly strong starts see Luxembourg only 8 seconds behind the German and Belgians, and Norway only 3 seconds down. Netherlands storm through into the lead though - 28 seconds up. Gesink, Keizer, Dekker, Posthuma and Reus all part of this strong line up
Russia then beat the Netherlands! Karpets, Ignatiev, Menchov and Trofimov all involved here. 4 seconds up at this early stage
They dont lead for long though, Spain come through and go a further 10 seconds quicker
The teams have also started passing through checkpoint 2, having completed the races tough climb. And Colombia have stormed up it! Uran is their best time trialist, but with him are the likes of Pedraza, Serpa, Henao Montoya, Duarte and Ardila - all strong climbers. They are 51 seconds ahead of Belgium at Check 2
It seems the later you start, the better you go at the first check. Switzerland and Ukraine are all 26 down on Spain, Sweden 25 seconds down, and the United Kingdom 17.
France are way down on Colombia at the 2nd split - 1'45, going behind Australia now (1'31 down), Germany too have lost a lot, and are 1'25 back. Italy master the climb a little better, but are still 49 seconds behind Colombia.
USA are through the first split in 2nd place, 7 seconds down on Spain
Belarus are the last through the first split, heres the standings there:
(Note, National = Belarus, El Al = Israel (Control Team))
Note Colombia down in 14th there, but their strong climb has set them up. They lead at the finish, but their advantage over Belgium has been reduced to 24 seconds - suggesting the last part of the race is slightly more favourable to time trialists in general, rather than those who can climb well.
They no longer lead at the 2nd check though. Netherlands have come through, caught up with Luxembourg, and lead Colombia by 33 seconds
Russia have almost caught Portugal and go 3rd at Check 2, 10 seconds down on Colombia. Spain are then through and they take the lead ... just! Only 3 seconds ahead of Netherlands, theyve lost time on the Dutch on the climb!
France, Denmark and Germany are all over a minute down on Colombia at the finish, while Switzerland have come through the 2nd Check and maintained their early pace! They really dont have much depth time trial wise, outside of Cancellara and maybe Schar, Theyve gone 5th at the 2nd split, 1'04 behind Colombia
Italy are 2nd at the finish, beating Belgium, while USA have fallen away at the 2nd check - 1'18 behind Colombia. Here is the full standings there:
Netherlands are at the finish, having surprisingly been unable to shake off Luxembourg - most notably in the final kilometre when with Frank Schleck on front, the Luxembourgers were dragged back towards the Dutch. Its a comfortable lead though - 1'07 ahead of Colombia.
Russia take 2nd, 51 seconds down - that may be enough for a Bronze medal today - but already closing in on Spain
And Spain win!! They beat Netherlands by 17 seconds.
Cancellara leads the Swiss challenge to 5th - a very good result. They are 1'36 behind Spain. USA meanwhile will be dissapointed, down in 8th, 1'54 behind - and interestingly, Zabriskie could not hold Phinney's wheel at the finish
And after Venezuela and Belarus, the race is over. Spain retain their title!
Contador, Plaza, Valverde, Intxausti, Gutierrez Palacios, Castano and Tenorio were all involved in 2010 aswell, but its a new experience for Abal.
