Not something we often see! Team Sky warming up (indoors) wearing ice packs prior to today's elite team time-trial in Doha. The men in black and blue were edged off the podium by BMC Racing team who were the last team off today - and finished second.
By Brian Canty
Despite an heroic effort, Ireland’s Nicolas Roche was left gutted in the elite team time-trial at the UCI World Championships in Doha, Qatar today, Sunday.
The national road and time-trial champion was in the Team Sky’s six-man line-up that took to the flat course this afternoon for the 40-kilometre test but they were left heartbroken by BMC Racing team who pushed them off the podium.
Roche was one of four Sky riders to cross the line in unison at the finish after two riders became jettisoned during the contest.
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The latter were Danny Van Poppel and Ben Swift as Vasil Kiryienka, Geraint Thomas, Michael Kwiatkowski all crossed the line together
Roche did some massive turns to bring his team around the course and across the line and when they finished their effort they temporarily led the field after they just about edged LottoNL-Jumbo by one second.
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However, of most concern to Team Sky were reigning champions BMC Racing team and the eventual winners Etixx-QuickStep.
But when Orica-BikeExchange bettered Team Sky’s benchmark of 43:26 (by 17 seconds) things took a took a turn for the worst.
Movistar were also expected to go well but their time of 43:43 gave the men in black and blue confidence.
The last two teams to cross the line were Etixx-QuickStep and BMC Racing team and when they set times of 42:32 and 42:44, Team Sky were pushed off the podium.
Roche’s next engagement is Wednesday’s ITT and based on how he rode today he can be very optimistic of going close to a top 10.
World Champs Men's TTT (40km)
1 Etixx - Quick-Step 0:42:32
2 BMC Racing Team 0:00:12
3 Orica - BikeExhange 0:00:37
4 Team Sky 0:00:54
5 Team LottoNl-Jumbo 0:00:55
6 Movistar Team 0:01:11
7 Team Giant-Alpecin 0:01:26
8 Team Katusha 0:02:01
9 Astana Pro Team 0:02:21
10 Verandas Willems Cycling Team 0:03:39
11 AG2R La Mondiale 0:03:43
12 Cycling Academy Team 0:04:25
13 CCC Sprandi Polkowice 0:04:26
14 Kolss BDC Team 0:05:04
15 Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling Team 0:05:44
16 Vino 4ever SKO 0:06:31
17 Stradalli - Bike Aid 0:07:24
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