On both occasions it was a close call. In 2012 Sky was 0’03” slower and last year the escape was even narrower with Orica GreenEdge coming in at 0’01”.
Omega Pharma – Quick Step
Living time trial legend Tony Martin is the motor of the team. In 2012 he was backed-up by Tom Boonen, Niki Terpstra, Peter Velits, Sylvain Chavanel and Kristof Vandewalle, whilst in 2013 the other names were Michał Kwiatkowski, Terpstra, Velits, Chavanel and Vandewalle. Most riders are still aboard in the Belgian squad, except for Velits, Chavanel and Vandewalle – that’s half of last year’s team, so it may be a tough call becoming World Champion once again.
2014 squad: Martin, Boonen, Kwiatkowski, Terpstra, Vermote, Serry.
Orica GreenEDGE
No TTT World Champions in 2013, but in the first Grand Tour of 2014 the revenge was sweet – Orica was fastest and with Tuft and Matthews the first week of racing was filled with one of their riders in pink. The Aussie-squad in mainly made up of riders with a history in track cycling, not a bad thing is you want to shine in the TTT-discipline.
The 2012 World Championships saw them finishing third with Sam Bewley, Luke Durbridge, Sebastian Langeveld, Cameron Meyer, Jens Mourits and Svein Tuft, whilst last edition the team was made up of Durbridge, Tuft, Mourits, Michael Hepburn, Daryl Impey and Brett Lancaster. Only Langeveld left Orica, so the Australians can bring on a team that’s not only strong and fast, but they know each other well. And it’s exactly this quality making them the top-favourite this year – plús of course the fact no athlete wants to be bested by 1 second. So motivation will be sky high.
2014 squad: Jens Mouris, Brett Lancaster, Luke Durbridge, Michael Hepburn, Svein Tuft, Damien Howson. The latter – at 22 a talented time-trialist – replaces Impey from the Florence-squad.
Team SKY
The British finished third in Florence, 0’22” behind Omega Pharma. If they desire there is the possibility to bring exactly the same team with Chris Froome, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Vasil Kiryienka, Richie Porte, Kanstаntsin Siwtsow and Geraint Thomas. However, Porte and Boasson Hagen are not in their best form this season, si it’s no wonder they are left out. Wiggins is the motor of the team, replacing Froome.
2014 squad: Bradley Wiggins, Salvatore Puccio, Vasil Kiryienka, Geraint Thomas, Dario Cataldo, Kanstаntsin Siwtsow.
Trek-Factory Racing
With aboard riders like Fabian Cancellara, Bob Jungels, Kristof Vandewalle and Jesse Sergent Trek has access to talented time trialist. In previous editions the performance was not spectacular, but that’s not the whole stry. Trek could be an outsider to be reckoned with.
2014 squad: Fabian Cancellara, Jasper Stuyven, Jesse Sergent, Kristof Vandewalle, Markel Irizar, Yaroslav Popovych. So no Jungels, instead another talented youngster – Jasper Stuyven – is on board.
BMC Racing Team
Alessandro Ballan, Philippe Gilbert, Taylor Phinney, Marco Pinotti, Manuel Quinziato and Tejay van Garderen were the men on duty when lacking 3 seconds to be TTT World Champion. Ballan aside BMW was able to bring on exactly the same team, but they don’t, partly because Phinney broke his leg last May in a crash during the National Championships.
2014 squad: Van Garderen, Velits, Dennis, Dillier, Oss, Quinziato. Velits is the only BMC-rider starting as World Champion in the discipline – last year he rode for Omega Pharma.