Team time trials are always one of the biggest goals for Orica-GreenEDGE and it will be no different on Sunday, when they will line up at the World Championship TTT ready to take their revenge on defending champions Omega Pharma – Quick Step.
The Australian squad lost to winners of all previous three editions of the event, Omega Pharma – Quick Step, by less than one second last year and Florence and they’re eager to take on the Belgian team once again in Ponferrada.
While Orica will take the start with almost the same proven roster as last season and they have undergone specialized trainings in Jerez de la Frontera towards the event, OPQS squad is undoubtedly weaker than their previous set-up without the likes of Kristof Vandewalle (Trek Factory Racing) or Sylvain Chavanel (IAM Cycling) on board.
“We do not have a superstar in likes of Tony Martin and Bradley Wiggins, but we created a tight-knitted group of specialists who are all willing to suffer. That’s our greatest strength,” Matt White said, according to radsport-news.com.
Still, the Australian team manager, Matt White, brushes off a pressure from his riders claiming, that with nearly invincible Tony Martin with the squad, defending champions are going to be the main favorites to take their fourth consecutive title in Ponferrada.
“Obviously Omega will be our greatest rival and we will give all our hearts fighting against them since I believe that Tony Martin is the best time trialist the world has ever seen. But it’s all about challenges in cycling and this is the biggest one for our team.”
Orica GreenEDGE roster for World Championship TTT event:
Brett Lancaster, Damien Howson, Jens Mouris, Luke Durbridge, Michael Hepburn, Svein Tuft
Malcolm LANGE 51 years | today |
Stéphane URIE 36 years | today |
Jeroen KREGEL 39 years | today |
Andre ROOS 22 years | today |
Sophie ENEVER 25 years | today |
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