Thuringen Rundfahrt begins with a 11.3km flat TTT. It's going to sort out the first leader of the race, however no big gaps are expected.
First to begin are Sram-Riboxx Cycling Team. Linus Gerdemann is the team's leader here and does majority of the work today. Thomas Bontenackels is another rider who gives his absolute best to set fast pace at the start. The team finishes with very respectable 14'54” which will be the benchmark for many teams here.
Next up are the boys from Airbaltic - Endura. The team doesn't have a great TTT depth, but has three strong riders with Ignas Konovalovas as the clear leader, who does immense amount of work through this course, however after all this is a TTT and one rider can’t do the whole work, team finishes at 15'09”.
Adira-Isq Project leader Dietmar Mehr-Wenige is not the greatest TT'er in the world and the team has to keep a pace that he can comfortably follow. Martyn Irvine & Jorge Pereira lead the team for most of the time, and do a good job along rest of their teammates. They cross the line at respectable 15'05.
The Ukrainian team Metinvest-Emirates comes here with very strong TTT squad lead by Vitaliy Popkov who will be looking at decent GC place at the end of this stage race. They came to the TTT as one the favourites and they ride a good time, but not enough to beat Sram today.
14'59"
Hollister Procycling with dual lead in GC with Carlos Betancourt and Ion Izzagire, and the best sprinter in the field, Allan Davis. Their TTT is not the strongest here, but good teamwork brings them a time of 15'03” which is good start for the team. However due to high pace, Betancourt dropped at the end and lost 5 unnecessary seconds here.
The Russian team Tinkoff Bank - Rosneft OJSC are one of the candidates for promotion this season and hope to earn some good points in this race mainly from Vasil Kiyrenka. They finish with a solid time of 15'01”
Meanwhile the Jaguar - Eritel doesn't bring a hilly contender rider here, they definitely bring some great TT'ers. The team is lead by British ITT Champion Ian Stannard and Andrew Tennant. The great teamwork between all the riders in the team proves to be vital and brings them terrific time, however it’s just one second slower than Sram’s best time.
15’55”
The Spanish team Vueling Airlines brings the best pucheur into the race with Patrik Sinkewitz who'll be looking to limit his looses today. The team is probably the weakest TTT side in the race and the outcome can be seen clearly as they cross the line 2nd last in time of 15'07”. Sinkewitz will have some work to do here, however the looses today should not be vital at all.
Rothaus - Aegon brings one of the biggest favourites to the race in Lars Boom and a great TT'ers to support him. They definitely want to show their best in what we can almost call a "home race" for the team and they don't disappoint many of their fans here! They absolutely storm their way around the course and produce new best time of 14'49”, 5 seconds clear of Sram.
The Swedish team, Sweedbank-PEAB are led in the race by Ben Hermans in whom they place the GC hopes. They finish of the same time as the Adira-Isq Project, 15'05”. Not great, but it's not worst start to this race.
Team UPC - Boehringer-Ingelheim are the last team on the course and they bring big favourite in Kais Reus who'll be looking to win the GC here. Reus & Elijzen power Team UPC through most of the course and finish on respectable, but again not great, 15'05".
Rothaus - Aegon
Jaguar - Eritel
Metinvest-Emirates
Tinkoff Bank - Rosneft OJSC
Hollister Pro Cycling
Adira-Isq Project
Team UPC - Boehringer-Ingelheim
Swedbank-PEAB
Team Vueling Airlines
Martin Velits
Michiel Van Aelbroeck
Luka Mezgec
Jani Tewelde
Sam Bennett
