Team LottoNL-Jumbo fifth in Valenciana team time trial
Team LottoNL-Jumbo started the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana placing fifth in the team time trial. BMC won after 37.9 kilometres with a time of 43.17 minutes, 21 seconds over Team Sky. Team LottoNL-Jumbo clocked 44.29.
Team LottoNL-Jumbo was the first of the specialists to start and they showed there strength after 11 kilometres. The team sat the best time at the first intermediate check, but not much later, Quick Step, BMC and Sky beat their time.
The same story repeated itself at the finish. With just five riders, the Dutch team had the fastest time until Quick Step, BMC, Sky and Movistar came through.
One of the new riders Stef Clement felt immediately familiar with the new environment.
“It is very nice to get back my place in this well-oiled machine. We complement each other nicely," Clement said. "Today we didn't perform at our best, we were not all in a top shape. We went for the highest result, so we started full gas and that meant we lost riders pretty quickly. That's the game."
Mathieu Heijboer
The High Performance Manager Mathieu Heijboer had expected more today.
"Despite the strong opposition, we were hoping for a better outcome," he explained. "As soon as we started, we were left with six men, and if that happened after eight kilometers, you know that it is difficult to come away with a good result."
Primoz Roglic and Martijn Keizer were dropped quickly by the team.
"That was quite a surprise. Especially since Roglic showed in training that he's okay, it's very surprising if he can't then follow. They were just not good enough.
"Riders coached each other continuously and rode a good race. Especially Twan Castelijns did very well, it was his first real team time trial and he rode very strongly."
Team LottoNL-Jumbo was the first of the specialists to start and they showed there strength after 11 kilometres. The team sat the best time at the first intermediate check, but not much later, Quick Step, BMC and Sky beat their time.
The same story repeated itself at the finish. With just five riders, the Dutch team had the fastest time until Quick Step, BMC, Sky and Movistar came through.
One of the new riders Stef Clement felt immediately familiar with the new environment.
“It is very nice to get back my place in this well-oiled machine. We complement each other nicely," Clement said. "Today we didn't perform at our best, we were not all in a top shape. We went for the highest result, so we started full gas and that meant we lost riders pretty quickly. That's the game."
Mathieu Heijboer
The High Performance Manager Mathieu Heijboer had expected more today.
"Despite the strong opposition, we were hoping for a better outcome," he explained. "As soon as we started, we were left with six men, and if that happened after eight kilometers, you know that it is difficult to come away with a good result."
Primoz Roglic and Martijn Keizer were dropped quickly by the team.
"That was quite a surprise. Especially since Roglic showed in training that he's okay, it's very surprising if he can't then follow. They were just not good enough.
"Riders coached each other continuously and rode a good race. Especially Twan Castelijns did very well, it was his first real team time trial and he rode very strongly."
