It was an uncharacteristic ride for ORICA-GreenEDGE on the stage nine team time trial at the Tour de France today.

What started as a major objective heading into the three-week Tour became more of a battle of survival for the Australian outfit as they took the start ramp as the first starters of the day.

It was a depleted team of six riders, three less than most other outfits, that rolled off to complete the 28km course.  Amongst them was Michael Matthews, whose contribution was also limited due to broken ribs.

Sticking together for the full course, ORICA-GreenEDGE stopped the clock at 37minutes 13seconds. BMC Racing won the stage in a time of 32'15".

Whilst the ride wasn’t anything to write home about it was enough to get the full team through to a much awaited rest day, where the determined outfit will regroup and refocus their assault on the second and third weeks of racing.

“Today was all about conserving energy and getting all six riders to the line with as little effort as possible,” sport director Matt White said.

“Michael is getting better and better every day. When he is going to be ready to target a stage, I’m not sure, but today was certainly a day that helps towards that cause.

“Tomorrow is a well deserved rest day. It also shifts us into phase two of the Tour. The nerves from the general classification and sprinters team is over now and we going into the phase where the best climbers are going to battle it out.

“There are certainly days in the second week that we are going to go for, when and where we will have to see.”