Specialized-Lululemon lived up to expectations in today's world championships team time trial when the American squad crushed the opposition to defend the title they won in Limburg last year. Rabo Women Team rode a consistent race to take 2nd while Orica-AIS took 3rd.

Specialized-Lululemon has been totally dominant when it comes to time trialing and the team was the major favourite in today's Worlds team time trial where they lined up as defending champions. Unsurprisingly, the sextet of Trixi Worrack, Eleonora Van Dijk, Evelyn Stevens, Carmen Small, Katie Colclough and Lisa Brennauer crused the opposition and defended the title they took at the inaugural running of the event in Limburg last year.

The team posted the fastest time at both intermediate checks and kept extending their advantage all the way to the finish. At the first check, they were only 1,87 seconds ahead of Orica-AIS but at the second one, they had extended their lead to a massive 50 seconds. When they crossed the finish line as the final team on the course, they stopped the clock in a time that was 1.11 faster than the one set by Rabo Women Team.

Last year's runner-ups Orica-AIS went out hard from the beginning as they tried to put the American favourites under pressure. Having been less than 2 seconds behind at the first check, they faded on the latter part of the course and had to settle for 3rd. On the other hand, Rabo Women Team rode a consistent race and improved from 3rd at both intermediate checks to a silver medal at the end.

Rusvelo was the fourth team down the ramp and set a time that was far better than anyone else when they crossed the line. The team faced a long wait in the hot seat and led the race until only the three big favourite teams remained. In the end, the Russians had to settle for 4th while MCipollini Giordana took 5th.

The world championships continues later today when the elite men battle it out for the team time trial title. Starting at 14.00 CEST you can follow that race on CyclingQuotes.com/live.

Result:

1 Team Specialized-Lululemon 51.10,69
Lisa Brennauer
Katie Colclough
Carmen Small-McNellis
Evelyn Stevens
Ellen Van Dijk
Trixi Worrack
 

2 Rabo Women 1.11,09
Lucinda Brand
Thalita De Jong
Pauline Ferrand Prevot
Roxane Knetemann
Annemiek Van Vleuten
Marianne Vos
 

3 Orica-AIS 1.33,83
Annette Edmondson
Shara Gillow
Loes Gunnewijk
Melissa Hoskins
Emma Johansson
Amanda Spratt
 

4 Rusvelo 2.02,31
Alexandra Burchenkova
Anastasiya Chulkova
Oxana Kozonchuk
Elena Kuchinskaya
Evgenia Romanyuta
Olga Zabelinskaya
 

5 MCipollini Giordana 2.18,83
Tatiana Antoshina
Valentina Carretta
Tatiana Guderzo
Malgorzta Jasinska
Valentina Scandolara
Marta Tagliaferro
 

6 Wiggle Honda 2.33,00
Charlotte Becker
Emily Collins
Danielle King
Lauren Kitchen
Joanna Rowsell
Linda Villumsen
 

7 Team Argos-Shimano 2.50,51
Janneke Busser-Kanis
Elke Gebhardt
Willeke Knol
Amy Pieters
Esra Tromp
Kirsten Wild
 

8 Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 3.03,44
Lauren Tucker Hall
Janel Holcomb
Leah Kirchmann
Joëlle Numainville
Denise Ramsden
Jade Wilcoxson
 

9 Sengers Ladies Cycling Team 3.05,80
Sofie De Vuyst
Vera Koedooder
Maaike Polspoel
Julia Soek
Anna Van Der Breggen
 

10 Boels Dolmans Cycling Team 3.33,70
Elisabeth Armitstead
Jessie Daams
Romy Kasper
Nina Kessler
Emma Trott
Adrie Visser
 

11 Be Pink 3.48,49
Noemi Cantele
Simona Frapporti
Dalia Muccioli
Doris Schweizer
Silvia Valsecchi
Malgorzata Wojtyra
 

12 S.C. Michela Fanini Rox 4.34,18
Aude Biannic
Mireia Epelde Bikendi
Jutatip Maneephan
Edwige Pitel
Liisi Rist
Lara Vieceli
 

13 Hitec Products UCK 4.38,50
Emilia Fahlin
Ceclie Gotaas Johnsen
Julie Leth
Elisa Longo Borghini
Rossella Ratto
Thea Thorsen
 

14 Lotto Belisol Ladies 4.46,14
Marijn De Vries
Jolien D'Hoore
Ann Sophie Duyck
Sharon Laws
Carlee Taylor
Celine Van Severen
 

15 Faren-Kuota 5.27,38
Elena Cecchini
Maria Giulia Confalonieri
Christelle Ferrier-Bruneau
Alessandra Giuseppina Grassi
Carolina Rodriguez
Patricia Schwager
 

16 Vaiano Fondriest 5.30,87
Valentina Bastianelli
Alessandra D'Ettorre
Barbara Guarischi
Serika Mitchel Guluma
Katarzyna Sosna
Chiara Vannucci