Nat Bromhead
ORICA-BikeExchange have secured third place in the men’s team time trial at the World Road Championships in Doha, Qatar.
The Australian outfit covered the 40km course in 43minutes and nine seconds, 16 seconds behind second placed Team BMC and 37 seconds back from overall winners Etixx-Quick Step.
Sport director Matt White said to stand on the podium with bronze was the result of an outstanding effort by the 6-man team.
“Everyone stepped up to another level as soon as we were down the ramp especially Michael Hepburn and Luke Durbridge,” he said.
Outstanding Effort In Hot & Windy Conditions
“Luke was doing one minute turns on the front and really made the difference in the finale whilst the track boys, Michael and Alexander Edmondson switched immediately into competition mode despite the different preparation they had after the Olympics.”
“Big Svein Tuft, Daryl Impey and Michael Matthews were also outstanding and as we expected the whole team rode as a tight unit and produced the goods. We can hold our heads very high and be happy with our achievement, it was a very fast course with changing wind directions, but to be honest it was a fairly light wind and everyone had to deal with the same conditions.”
The action continues from Doha this week with the Individual Time Trial events on Wednesday then the big one, the World Championship Road Race, on Sunday.
Road World Championships Team Time Trial Top 3:
1. Etixx-Quickstep 42:32:39
2. BMC Racing Team 00:11:69
3. ORICA-BikeExchange 00:37:12
