After a major administrative delay on behalf of the organizers, our Czech race is set to begin with a prologue. Ganna, Chavanne and Leung sit highest of the prologue specialists as everyone attempts the 5.0km course to gain the leader’s jersey.
Vanthourenhout is the first rider off the start line and will automatically set the first fastest time in 5’52”. That’s taken down quickly by some other early riders in Turek, Wohler, Penko, and Viviani before our first potential favorite begins in Tanfield.
Tanfield is the first prologue specialist to hit the races and comes across in 5’36”. That’s a big improvement over the previous best but there are still over 170 riders to come. With his time, the winning time can be guessed around 5’25” so any time sub 5’30” will do riders well.
Thomas is the next top time trialist to start. He stops in to match at 5’36” and takes the lead.
Zakarin also hopes to take the top time with his strong capabilities but ends up at 5’37”, 1 second back at this time.
Vlatos is the final rider in the first wave and the best of everyone so far. It gives him the best time! 5’35” with just under a second ahead of Thomas
History of Best Times - First Wave
Name
Time
New Best Time By
Vanthourenhout
5’52”
Turek
5’43”
9”
Wohler
5’43”
0”
Penko
5’43”
0”
Viviani
5’43”
0”
Tanfield
5’36”
7”
Thomas
5’36”
0”
Vlatos
5’35”
0”
After the first wave, the next best rider to challenge is Viennet in the French Champion’s jersey. It looks like it could be a good time. He also crosses in 5’35” and they give him the edge! He’s the newest rider in the hot seat.
While unable to take the lead, Scotson and Sterobo both come in 3 seconds back from the leader.
Yatsevich is another of the overall favorites hoping to make an impact. He makes a great attempt and equals the 5’35” as well. He’s now the new leader as everyone is taking off fractions of a second.
Dennis will need a great time here to make up a few seconds on some of the better time trialists on stage 3… AND HE DOES! It’s another 5’35” but he slots into the lead!
The first of the big three to test their prowess is Leung. He sets off to start the 3rd wave. Leung powers through to the finish and sets a new best time. 5’32”! This will stand for a while you’d have to believe and shows that everyone is close to their max. 5’30” should be the newest goal now as the 5’25” might’ve been too quick of an estimate.
Lammertink will also set off to make an impact as he aims for a top ten overall. He overperforms his prologue expectations with a 5’35” and slots into provisional 2nd place.
Razumov is right behind him and matches exact time again at 5’35”. He takes over 2nd place on the milliseconds with now 7 riders all on 5’35”.
The Portuguese national champion is next to challenge the top riders. He puts in a massive effort and slots in a new 2nd place time of 5’33”. A great time for Oliveira!
One of the best prologue/sprinter/TT triads of the race is the next major favorite. It doesn’t look quite as fast but that’s just the images. Larsen pushes to a fantastic time of 5’32” to match the lead - but falls behind Leung on the fractions.
Kukrle follows up as the next strong rider to truly challenge. He slots into p-4 with a 5’34” just 2 seconds back.
Howson also challenges with a 5’33” and moves into 3rd place at the time of his finish. He’s just 1 second back.
A prologue/sprint double threat, Keough powers toward a good time with hopes of gaining the leader’s jersey in the group sprint on stage 2. He’s successful and slots in at 5’33” just 1 second back.
History of Best Times - Second, Third, Fourth Wave
Name
Time
New Best Time By
Vlatos
5’35”
-
Viennet
5’35”
0”
Yatsevich
5’35”
0”
Dennis
5’35”
0”
Leung
5’32”
3”
At the halfway point of finishers, Leung leads the pack with a few favorites yet to come still.
Groselj is the first in the 2nd half to make a run for it. It’s 5”34” from Groselj sitting 2 seconds back.
Hepburn will also try his chances at a top time. A tougher attempt for him 4 seconds back to only sit in 16th place at 5’36”.
The British Champion Hayter matches Hepburn with a 5’36” which is again a disappointment to be outside the top 10 as he would’ve hoped.
Chavanne is ready for his starring moment of this tour. He pushes strongly from the start is makes good progress on those in front. It’s same time as Leung at 5’32”... and he’s second! Leung holds the top spot!
Hansen will also give a top time a shot with a hope that his high acceleration can earn him bonus seconds elsewhere. Still, he slots in at 5:36” 4 seconds back.
The Israeli champion Goldstein hopes for a great time and can only slot into 15th with 3” to the leaders. 5’35” for him.
Ganna can see Goldstein crossing the line ahead as he has just over a kilometer to go. Will Ganna take the best time?
Yes! It’s 5’30” exactly for Ganna as he gaps the competition with our first lead change in about 100 riders.
Christodoulos is the first rider to start after Ganna with a hope of a major result. 5’33” for the Cyprus champ and 3” back.
Cataford also has a chance for a great time but appears slightly back of Christodoulos. Cataford picks up the time in the last KM to equal Christodoulos for 3 seconds back.
Mano starts the final wave of riders for a powerful King Power TT squad. His strength comes in the longer races, so it will be interesting to see if he can push top 20. It’s 7 seconds back for Mano although he can recover much of that later.
Kämna gives it a run for his money 5 seconds back for a 5’35”.
Durbridge is the final major player for the stage win and he’s crossing the 1km to go banner. It’s not enough for the win, but Durbridge finishes in 5’31” for a 3rd place, just 1 second back from Ganna.
While Mullen may not be able to win today, he hopes for major success overall. Today’s result places him 6” back at 5’36”
Wirtgen is also ready to minimize any potential loss to Ganna and Durbridge. It’s only 4 seconds lost for Wirtgen which he should be confident to pick up on the longer TT. 5’34”
Würtz falls into the same category of Wirtgen where he wants to just minimize any losses. And minimize he does as he slots into 6th place for 5’32”.
Coquard is the last man out of the starting gate and places himself into 10th overall in 5’33”. If he can find his way to the top step of tomorrow’s stage, he just might hold the leader’s jersey after stage 2.
History of Best Times - 2nd Half Wave
Name
Team
Time
New Best Time By
Leung
5’32”
Ganna
5’30”
2”
Ganna wins stage 1 in a powerful result for Team Puma - SAP!
