Welcome in France for another big time-trialing event! Würtz, Phinney and Wirtgen are the world’s best time-trialists and are expected to be the main podium contenders.
Thomas is the first real time-trialist on the road. He sets a reference time of 55’34
The Russian National Champion Zakarin was 14 seconds off at the second chrono. He finishes 19 seconds slower than Thomas, in 55’53
King Power’s Leung is more of a prologue specialist. He was 3 seconds slower at the first intermediate chrono, and 17 seconds in the end: 55’51.
Lammertink takes the hot seat for 10 seconds on Thomas: 55’23. He shouldn’t stay on it too long though…
Not because of Viennet though. The French champion is for now slower than his compatriot. 55’37 in the end for the Polar rider.
20 riders have finished. Lammertink leads the standings.
The best contender for the hot seat for now is Tanfield. The Brit is having an amazing ride and indeed takes the lead: 55’19.
Brunel is here on a wildcard, so no pressure on him. Still, his time of 55’44 is decent, good enough for provisional 5th.
60 riders have finished, we can have a new look at the classifciation.
Vlatos is anothjer of thye bunch of strong time-trialists who made the travel here in France. He finishes 24 seconds slower than Yatsevich, who took the lead with a time of 55’14.
Mullen (55’10) and Durbridge (55’03) take turn on the hot seat. But the favorites are closing in now.
The World Champion Phinney comes next. He’s the first to finish under the 55 minutes: 54’55.
Sensation here in Les Herbiers, as Wirtgen finishes in the same time! For now he’s put first, but we can be sure that the race organizers are reviewing the images closely.
That shouldn’t be any problem for Würtz, who was 9 seconds fastest on the 2nd intermedate chrono. And indeed, je wins by 14 seconds: 54’41. What an amazing ride!
In the end, Phinney is classed ahead of Wirtgen. Durbridge is best of the rest, at the foot of the podium.
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