In their previous TTT's, Colombia have usually finished near the bottom of the standings but today they produced their best ever performance when they took 10th at the Giro del Trentino. The result provides them with lots of morale ahead of tomorrow's first summit finish where Fabio Duarte and Jarlinson Pantano are expected to shine.

They were tired, sweaty and could hardly speak for a couple of moments, but all in all, they were satisfied. Team Colombia’s six riders at the Giro del Trentino gave their very best in the opening team time trial from Riva del Garda to Arco (13,4 km), and they were rewarded with the 10th place, only 27 seconds behind BMC Racing Team. The American outfit clocked a 14.12 time, riding to a stunning 56,620 km/h average, bringing home favorite Daniel Oss in the leader’s jersey at the end of the only flat stage of the 4-day event.

In spite of the short numbers, Fabio Duarte, Jarlinson Pantano, Leonardo Duque, Carlos Julian Quintero, Juan Esteban Arango and Duber Quintero joined their forces to produce a very solid and competitive effort, even recovering some positions in the second half of the race after clocking 7.14 at the halfway.

Sports Director Valerio Tebaldi was satisfied, but not really surprised of his team’s performance:

“It would be unfair to say I was sure we would make such a good time trial, but I was very confident. We are six here, but all of them are doing well, and today Juan Estaban Arango was particularly impressive: he was the one who re-launched the team’s speed every time it was needed, and really was a key performer today. This display gives us confidence, also in the perspective of the Giro d’Italia’s team time trial in Belfast in little more than two weeks."

From tomorrow on, mountains will come to take the lion’s share at Giro del Trentino:

“We don’t know the finish to San Giacomo di Brentonico yet, but I expect some good performances from Fabio Duarte and Jarlinson Pantano, who are testing themselves ahead of the Giro d’Italia, but the rest of the team won’t definitely stay idle.”

Tomorrow, the Giro del Trentino moves from Limone sul Garda to San Giacomo di Brentonico uphill finish (164 km), while in Belgium, a 8-man line-up guided by Sports Director Oscar Pellicioli will face the first World Tour classic of the season for the Escarabajos, the Fleche Wallonne.