The stage favorites show up as the home team plus Germany and Italy. Defending champion Australia not even on the page.
Canada gets things going on the 46k course.
Second on the course are the Russians, at the first time check (of 3) they are 17 seconds up on the Canadians.
Third on the course are the Kiwis. At the 2nd time check they are 7 seconds behind the Russians. The Canadians are in a distant third. They won’t be celebrating in Ottawa tonight.
The same can be said of Tokyo, the Japanese were behind Canada at the first check.
Next team on the course is one of the favorites, roared on by the home crowd, the USA has almost caught the Japanese. But their lead at the third time check is just 1 second ahead of Russia.
But a home world TTT Championship doesn’t look likely. Portugal has 5k to go and they have been gaining time on the hosts throughout and they led by 7 seconds at the last check.
Perhaps the Estonian’s have been enjoying the NY night lifw too much, they were over 2’30 down at the third check. Last place.
The Czech Republic also well down by the third check. 48 seconds off the pace in sixth place.
Spain, a little closer, 23 seconds down on Portugal at the third check, but probably too much time to make up by the end.
South Africa not really a contender either, they were 1’16 down at the third check.
Portugal has reached the finish, 4 seconds ahead of the US and 8 ahead of Russia. Those three occupy the podium for now.
The defending champions enjoy their last few seconds as World Champions as they reach the finish. They won’t be repeating, they 40 seconds down, only good enough for 6th right now.
Germany is the next team home; they were just 1 second off the lead at the 2nd check but had faded to 27 seconds behind at the third check.
A disappointing 5th for the Germans, 25 seconds down, behind the 3 mentioned earlier plus Spain.
Ukraine has Los Pollos great Marlen Zmorka and very cool uniforms but they aren’t a contender. They were 1’33 down at the 3rd check, 15th place.
Next Thomas leads France across the finish. They were in the lead or within seconds of the lead at every time check.
They are the new leaders at the finish by 2 seconds, they reversed a 2 second deficit in the last segment. Russia is knocked off the podium.
Austria are next to finish, they are well off the pace and finish 56 seconds behind.
The Swiss have already lost 48 seconds at the third check and are out of it.
Most of the split times for the teams left on the course aren’t strong. Denmark one of the few within range of the French, they were 12 seconds down at the last check. But they can’t make up the deficit and finish in 5th, 15 seconds down. The top 5 right now are France, Portugal, USA, Russia and Denmark.
Resplendent in their blue the Italians would have hoped to at least crack the top 5. They were in 8th at the third check though.
They drop to 9th at the finish, 38 seconds down.
Luxembourg not a threat, (+2’30 down at the third check, 21st).
Ditto Great Britain (+58, 16th)
Ditto the Netherlands (+39, 10th)
And Norway, (+45, 12th)
The Irish are the next team to cross the final time check, they are out of it as well, 1’44 down (20th)
Interesting start order choices have taken a lot of the tension out of this one. The Greeks will be the last to finish and they aren’t looking too organized as they reach Central Park and the finish.
They struggle home 58 seconds down in 15th.
The French have come close before with 2 second places in the last 3 years but this year they go one better and win their first TTT World championship. Portugal second and the home team settles for third, maybe they should have selected Mostov.
Congratulations to the winning team of Benjamin Thomas, Pierre-Henri Lecuisinier, Yoann Paillot, Remi Cavagna, Pierre Latour, Emilien Viennet, Benoit Cosnefroy and Valentin Madouas.
2021 World Championships 
