Join me from 10pm AEST for the Mens Team Time Trial from the World Championships in Tuscany, Italy.
Benvenuti a tutti to The Roar‘s coverage of the 2013 World Road Cycling Championships from Toscana, Italia.
Over the coming week, The Roar cycling team will be bringing you all the action, commentary and analysis of the Championships, starting with tonight’s Elite Men Team Time Trial.
The team time trial was introduced into the World Championships last year and is the only race at the Worlds where riders will race for their trade teams rather than for their country.
Tonight’s race will be raced over a 57.2 kilometre, mostly flat course. Starting in the historic town of Montecatini Terme, the teams will ride a generally straight course to the capital of Tuscany, Florence.
The race will finish at the Firenze Mandela Forum and, as with most events over the coming week, the course will see riders go past the beautiful, grand and magnificent Duomo.
If you’re looking for things to add to a bucket list, may I recommend putting this grand building number one.
The course has some small lumps early on, with an early climb to Serravalle Pistoiese. The next 42 kilomteres is straight and flat, but it is the last three kilometres that will provide the riders with some challenges.
As the race closes in on the Duomo, the teams will have to contend with cobblestones, speed humps and tight turns.
Those of you who follow the Grand Tours will be familiar with the team time trial format, although the teams for the Worlds will consist of six, not nine riders.
Teams can drop two riders with the time taken from the fourth rider to cross the line.
Last year Omega Pharma QuickStep won the event, with BMC second and Orica-GreenEDGE third.
This year’s podium placings could quite easily be between these three teams.
Omega Pharma will have the time trialling skills of German Tony Martin, who is one of the favourites for Wednesday’s Individual Time Trial.
He will be joined by Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel and the Belgian team could easily win back-to-back titles.
BMC will have Taylor Phinney and Teejay van Garderen as the team’s main workhorses.
With a bronze at last year’s Worlds in this event and victory in the Team Time Trial at this year’s Tour de France, Orica-GreenEDGE are also strong contenders.
Svein Tuft, Brett Lancaster and Daryl Impey, who were a part of the Tour de France stage winning team, will be leading the Aussie outfit tonight in Italy.
Australia’s current National Time Trial Champion, Luke Durbridge, will also ride along with Jens Mouris and Michael Hepburn. Impey is South Africa’s National Time Trial Champion and Tuft has won Canada’s National Time Trial on eight occasions.
RadioSchack will have Swiss time trialling master Fabian Cancellara leading them and Sky have named six of their Tour de France team.
Tonight’s race should be a cracking opener to the 2013 World Road Cycling Championships in Tuscany, Italy.
Join me from 10.00pm AEST for live coverage.
Kate Smart
Expert
What a fantastic beginning to the 2013 World Road Championships from Tuscany, Italy. I hope you've enjoyed tonight's coverage and remember to stay with us over the week for all of the action and analysis of the World Championships.
Kate Smart
Expert
The top ten standings: 1 OPQS 1:04.16 2 Orica GreenEdge +.01 3 Sky +23 4 BMC +1:18 5 Radioshack +1:18 6 Astana +1:22 7 Cannondale +1:29 8 Garmin +2:02 9 Saxo Tinkoff +2:14 10 Movistar +2:32
Kate Smart
Expert
OPQS are the world champions by .88 of a second! 1:04.16.74. They have won by less than a second. What an amazing time trial. Oh so close for Orica GreenEdge. Heart breaking for us Aussies but congratulations to OPQS for back to back world team time trial champions.
Kate Smart
Expert
Only OPQS are left. Tony Martin is bringing his teammates home. Chavanel is on his wheel. Only a 1 sec difference according tot he GPS. They have 4 riders left.
Kate Smart
Expert
BMC have finished in 4th with a time of 1:05.19.43.
Kate Smart
Expert
BMC and OPQS are the only teams left out on the course.
Kate Smart
Expert
BMC looking to finish in 4th. They are looking very tired as they approach the finish line.
Kate Smart
Expert
OPQS have dropped a man. BMC has lost a rider, down to 4.
Kate Smart
Expert
Orica GreenEdge are in the lead. They finish with a time of 1:04.17.54. They rode an avg speed of 53km/h.
Kate Smart
Expert
This is a thrilling end. OPQS are making time up on Orica who are down to 4 men. Orica are approaching the finish line.
Kate Smart
Expert
Sky are leading, 55 sec ahead of Radioshack and 59 sec ahead of Astana
Kate Smart
Expert
Sky have just finished in a time of 1:04.39. Froome struggled to keep up in the last few metres. Sky now lead the team time trial.
Kate Smart
Expert
Michael Hepburn and Jens Mouris have been dropped. BMC down to 5 riders as they head to toward the end. Movistar heading to the finish line. They finish with a time of 1:06.47.65, 6th fastest.
Kate Smart
Expert
Orica GreenEdge are down to 4 riders. OPQS have lost about 15 seconds between the 2nd and 3rd time checks.
Kate Smart
Expert
The times at the 3rd time check: 1 Orica GreenEdge 2 OPQS +1.45 3 Sky 20.79
Kate Smart
Expert
Katusha at the finish line. They finish in 1:07.02.38, in 6th place.
Kate Smart
Expert
Orica GreenEdge have gone faster than OPQS through the 3rd time check. OPQS went through at 47:15.40, 1 min 45 slower.
Kate Smart
Expert
There's only about 6 seconds between Orica and OPQS. This is going to be close indeed.
Arlene
Guest
Where is orica
Kate Smart
Expert
Can't help but think that Spartacus has just smashed his team mates.