Welcome to Mexico, it’s time to finally get underway! This should be an amazing TTT!
First team to take on the course is Caja Rural!
With the first three teams having passed the first checkpoint it is youthful Los Pollos Hermanos that are in first place. They’re 1 second faster than Bordeaux Métropole – Euskotren and 25 seconds faster than Caja Rural
The title defense for Genii Hyundai N Cycling seems like it might be in trouble already. They’re first over the first checkpoint but only 9 seconds faster than LPH. Should be a massive opening for other teams to finally get the win!
Glanbia manager MacC did say that they were unlikely to really do a lot here and it seems to be the case. At the first checkpoint the Irishmen are the worst team so far to cross 40 seconds down on Genii. Furthermore, their team is already looking disorganized with Jones having been dropped.
As everyone knows this is no ordinary TTT! Right before the second checkpoint we find a pretty tiring hill and as you can see it takes its toll on Caja Rural.
At the cost of Beltran LPH smashes the Spaniards’ time at the top by 46”. This time will most likely not stand for long but still a solid showing by the inexperienced core! They are currently still second at the first checkpoint, where 6 teams are still yet to pass.
Armirail leads Bordeaux Métropole – Euskotren over the hill to a new best time. They were 1 second behind LPH at the first checkpoint and now they find themselves 10 seconds in front of them.
Team Würth MODYF is one of the teams that we haven’t checked in with so far at the first checkpoint they’re 5th and at the second checkpoint they just crossed at 32 seconds behind leaders Bordeaux.
Pokälä leads Genii to a new best time but this time they’re just 7 seconds ahead of the Frenchmen who has done a really quick second stint.
At the first checkpoint interesting things are unfolding as SEE Turtles are currently second place just 1 second slower than Genii!
Cheyne and company are still struggling on the route losing even more time as they cross 47 seconds down on the leaders at the second checkpoint!
As pointed out in the preview the Gjensidige team was very top heavy and even before they reach the second checkpoint we can see that come to fruition in front of our very eyes! Tjotta, Jacobsen, Van Moer and Knotten are just too fast for the rest of the team to stay in touch. At the first checkpoint they were already down 40 seconds, let’s see what the damage is at the second checkpoint.
They’re currently 6th as they cross but it’s a massively disjointed effort, but they have only lost another 20 seconds from the first checkpoint with them now being a minute behind the leaders!
Izagirre and company goes one better than Gjensidige to find themselves in a tentative 6th.
In the meantime, The Turtles cross for a new best time. They’re 14 seconds faster than Genii!
At the first checkpoint Podium Ambition are living up to their name as they are currently in the same time as Genii!
At the finish line Bordeaux Métropole – Euskotren are the third team to cross as they set a new best time 12 seconds faster than LPH.
The cameras missed the main team cross but Heinrich and Goossens can celebrate a race well done as their team just set a new best time and now have to find their way to the hotseat! Just 4 seconds faster than Bordeaux! The next team to cross the line is the real big question though. How fast will Genii be?
27 second faster than the German outfit is the answer!
Glanbia close out a disappointing day 1’05 down on Genii as the 5th best team at the moment!
AND THE TIME IS SMASHED AT THE SECOND CHECKPOINT! Podium Ambition is reaching out for the top step as the are 29 seconds faster than the Turtles at the second checkpoint. Absolutely blazing pace!
The Turtles lose a few seconds on Genii as they cross the finish line in first place just 6 seconds ahead of them. Now there’s only one question left; Can Podium Ambition keep up the tempo?
And they smash it at the finish line as well! Podium Ambition are your 2023 Monterrey TTT champions with a stunning 45 second gap to the turtles! And while it wasn’t a threepeat for Genii they finish third on the day! Bordeaux and Würth finish out the top 5!
