First on the road are Euskotren - Pays Basque. They’re the only team with only 7 riders, but those are all decent enough TTers to still fight for a good result today. So they set the first bar both at the intermediate split and the finish. Their split time is 21’04.


The next team is ISA – Hexacta who’ve already dropped their first rider after 10 km. They set a new best time at the split with 20’39.


Third on the road are Lierse SK - Pizza Ullo PCTeam. They’re second at the split, 14’’ down.


The next team is Cervelo Test Team. They’re probably the worst squad today, but they manage to be not last at the split where they’re 18’’ behind.


Here we see the SEE Turtles, a team already renowned for their TTT abilities in only their second season. They actually do well as provisional second at the split, only 5’’ behind the lead.


They’re followed by today’s favourites ELCO – ABEA. They live up to their status by setting the new best time at the split in 20’34.


It will be a long day for DK Zalgiris who are already 50’’ down at the split. It seems their mix of top-level and mediocre TTers doesn’t work too well.


The approach of Podium Ambition seems to be much more successful. They’re only 10’’ down at the split and well within the mix for the top positions today.


Tafjord Kraft are another 4‘‘ slower, that’s enough for a provisional 5th place at the split.

Gjensidige Pro Cycling Team had problems getting their excellent TTers working together in a TTT last season – and those aren’t solved yet as they’ve already dropped two riders before the split where they’re only 15’’ behind nonetheless.


Next up is Trans Looney Tunes who’re further down the list with a gap of 19’’. It’s close in the midfield.


Sony - Force India proves this by having the same gap at the split. But they’re already down to 5 riders with 14 km still to go.


Genii Hyundai N Cycling are even faster with a gap of only 12’’, that’s enough for a provisional 5th place at the split.


They’re followed by Minions who beat their time by a mere second.


The last team on the road is Glanbia, another outfit with a strong TTT unit over the years. But they surely have to improve in the second half as they’re already 31’’ down at the split, resulting in 14th place there.

ELCO – ABEA takes the lead at the finish with a time of exactly 50’00. Behind them there have been some minor reshufflings, but Lierse SK - Pizza Ullo PCTeam did really well and climbed up to provisional 2nd after even gaining time on the leaders.

We were a bit harsh on Gjensidige’s approach earlier, but they did really well in the second half and are now provisional 2nd, only 3’’ behind the lead! But they’re the only squad able to fight for the podium of those remaining with only some other minor changes in the rankings.