Team MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung would finish in 20th place during today's stage 9 team time trial at the Tour de France. BMC Racing would be the winning team today as they beat Team Sky and Movistar into 2nd and 3rd respectively.

The African team had hoped to do a strong ride today but were also realistic in coming up against team's more experienced and well-rehearsed in the team time trialling discipline. Edvald Boasson Hagen put in the lion's share of work over the final sectors of a tough course to bring he young African climbers across the line in 34'11" for the 28km course.

The team's average speed of 49.1km/h would see us finish within 1'56" of the reigning team time trial world champions by the end of the stage. With no King of the Mountains points on offer during the team time trial, Daniel Teklehaimanot will keep his Polka Dot jersey going into tomorrow's rest day.

"We finished our team time trial and we didn't do a superb time but not too far away from the best. We did expect a bit more but we must also realise it was the first day this team rode together so it was not our main objective to go fast in the team time trial," sports director Jens Zemke said. "We had a very good first week here in the Tour de France and we are also heading into the mountains now. This is the terrain for our African talents so we can live with our result today, we did our best and we now look forward to the next tough stages."

"It was a hard course for a team time trial," Teklehaimanot said. "I was afraid of this race after the days I broke away but I wanted to contribute to the team's effort.

"To be in the polka dot jersey in the second week of the Tour de France is wonderful. I'd like to keep it, so after the rest day, I'll try to break away again and score more points."