Welcome to Mexico once again, as we are ready for the Monterrey TTT to start. Have a look at the list of favourites one last time, before the race really starts.
Duolingo the first team to start with Belgian time trial champion Cornu at the back. Can they complete their sponsor win goal? Their time at the first chrono is 18’18”.
Trans cycling team is the second team to start, and the first of the CT’ers here. They trail Duolingo by 22” at the first chrono, their time is 18’40”.
The Minions are next, they should be capable of a decent time trial. They immediately prove they are ready to battle for the top positions, as they beat the best time by ten seconds! Minions in the lead at the first chrono with a time of 18’08”!
Intxausti leading the way for Zalgiris. The Spaniard does a good job, as his teams beats Duolingo’s time as well! With a time of 18’16” the Lithuanians are eight seconds slower than our favourite banana lovers.
What do you get if you mix Andorra Cycling Project and a team time trial? Nothing much, it seems. The guys are looking for cobbles to work on, but can’t find them for now. Fifth out of five at the first chrono, 1’01” slower than the best time.
Mexican time trial champion De Luna is showing his Polar teammates around in his home country. He is doing so at a decent pace, as they are currently second at 4” of the best time from the Minions, which is still 18’08”.
The top favourites now on the road as well! The first and third part should suit the guys from Repsol – Netflix most, and they immediately take over the best time. With a time of 17’59” they are the first to dive under 18’ at the first chrono, but their lead over the others is not that big. First team behind team is the Minions, 9” slower.
Duolingo now on the mountain in the middle of the time trial. 41’42” is the time for the other teams to aim at.
Glanbia Foods Cycling Project on the road as well now, and their first time isn’t impressive. Sixth out of eight at the first chrono, already 35” behind the race lead.
Berg Cycles also passed the first chrono, and they’re also already out of the contention for the win it seems. Sixth out of nine teams there, 32” slower than Repsol – Netflix.
Project: Africa is one of the best time trial balanced teams, but they lack climbing skills. A not so good first part for them, as they are now sixth out of then at the first chrono with a time of 18’26”.
The Minions seem to be doing fine, as they are close to taking over Trans cycling team on the mountain leading to the second chrono. While the latter are obviously third out of three at the top, 1’48” behind Duolingo, The Minions take the lead again! Duolingo has come a bit closer though, as the difference between the two teams is only one second!
Mapei now with a beautiful background. The Italian squad is fourth at the first chrono, only 12” slower than Repsol’s best time.
The Gjensidige boys religiously following Uzbeki champion Siddikov at the first chrono. They are not last, which is already an accomplishment. Eleventh out of twelve there, 1’01” slower than Repsol – Netflix and 8” faster than Andorra.
Intxausti really carrying Zalgiris now! The Lithuanian superpower reaches the top of the mountain at the second chrono, and has the best time there so far! 26” faster than the Minions!
Polar overtook Andorra on the mountain. Good time by the Finnish team, as they only trail Zalgiris by two seconds and are now second out of six teams. The boys from Andorra last at 3’29”.
Only one team left to cross the first chrono, as Team Popo4Ever beats Gjensidige’s time by one second. They are now eleventh at one minute of leaders Repsol – Netflix.
Azteca was mentioned as one of the prerace favourites, but they definitely took a false start! They are only ninth at the first chrono, more than 30” behind Repsol – Netflix!
All times at the first chrono
Repsol – Netflix have suffered badly uphill! They not only lost their lead, they are now only fifth out of seven! Their time of 41’46” is 31” slower than the time of DK SVA Zalgiris!
It’s just not Duolingo’s day it seems, as the gap in this picture perfectly shows. They probably won’t be repeating the South Africa performance, as they finish in 1h06’50”.
Glanbia Foods and climbing are no perfect match. At the second chrono they are seventh out of eight teams, 2’45” behind the best time. In the background we see Berg Cycles climbing to a provisional sixth place at 1’22” of Zalgiris’ time.
As expected, Project: Africa don’t gain time on the mountain in the middle of the stage. Currently seventh out of ten, 1’48” behind Zalgiris.
Minions and Trans cycling team have been riding close to each other for a while now, which might not be the best sign for the PCT outfit. That translates itself into the result at the finish line, as the Minions are 26” slower than Duolingo, who remain in the lead for now! Trans cycling team third out of three, being 2’36” slower.
As they trail Zalgiris by 1’22” at the top of the mountain, Mapei is milliseconds faster than Berg Cycles and has the sixth time out of eleven teams at the second chrono.
Gjensidige drops below Andorra at the second chrono, the difference between the two being only 2”. It will be a close battle for the penultimate place.
Little sprint at the end by Hofer and his teammates, and it’s enough to hold off the others! Zalgiris currently the best time at the finish: 1h06’43” means they are 7” faster than Duolingo!
The last two teams now crossing the mountain summit, as Team Popo4Ever remains just ahead of Azteca. The Ukrainians have the twelfth best time, while Azteca is sixth at one minute of the time set by Zalgiris.
All times at the second chrono
Problems for Polar, as their team is split in two and only four are in the first group in the last km! They would have won, but as their fifth guy crosses the finish line a lot later, they are currently third at 26” of Zalgiris!
Andorra does a better job of staying together, but it doesn’t amount to much. Worst time so far, more than 4’30” behind Zalgiris.
Big moment now, as Repsol – Netflix is coming in. Other teams have come closer to Zalgiris in the last part, what about them? Their time is … 1h07’06”! Only good enough for third at the moment, as they are 23” slower than Zalgiris and 17” slower than Duolingo!
Glanbia Foods now also at the finish line, and there will be a lot of cursing in the team bus. Seventh out of eight, at almost three minutes of the (possible) race winner is not what they came here for.
Berg Cycles didn’t impress today, they are currently sixth at 1’30” of Zalgiris.
Project: Africa ranks seventh out of ten teams at the finish line and will probably be the best CT team. They lose 1’48” to Zalgiris.
Mapei beats Berg Cycles by four seconds and is currently sixth. Three more teams to come in, none should be a threat to the best time.
Gjensidige showed some resilience in the last part. They bounce back over Andorra and beat their time by eighteen seconds, the CT team now eleventh out of twelve teams at the finish line.
Team Popo4Ever then comes in together with Azteca as the last two teams. The Popo lovers finish twelfth, while Azteca manager kentaurus might be disappointed with a sixth place.
