Cannondale-Garmin posted a time of 30:41 in Montagny upon completion of the 24.5km stage three Critérium du Dauphiné team time trial. The effort, provisionally good for sixth place, would slot the American-registered squad until seventh place by stage end.

“On paper the course looked easy,” said sport director Andreas Klier. “With the wind and the climbing, it wasn’t so simple.”

The team time trial route included several gradual climbs, a rough country road and a decent all before the first time check at the 14km mark. Beyond the intermediate check point, teams faced a steady climb, another descent and then a final moderate ramp to the finish.

“We did really well from the start all the way through 20 kilometres,” said Jack Bauer, who was one of the five Cannondale-Garmin riders to stop the clock at the line. “That’s one of the best efforts I’ve done in a team time trial.”

“After that, I started to suffer, and we a lost a little time,” continued Bauer. “It was critical to make sure we finished with five together.”

The Dauphiné continues on Wednesday with stage designed for the sprinters, but a category four climb combined with a lumpy run in to the finish in Sisteron could prove disruptive to the sprint trains.

“We are looking ahead to the mountain stages where the racing will get hard,” said Klier.