American squad BMC Racing won the opening team time trial of the 2016 Tirreno-Adriatico in Italy on Wednesday.
TTT World Champions BMC put in a flawless performance on the out-and-back 22.7-kilometre coastal route in Lido di Camaiore, clocking 23 minutes and 55 seconds. The 56.947km/h average speed is the quickest ever recorded for a stage of Tirreno-Adriatico.
The team's Daniel Oss crossed the line first, and will wear the overall race leader's jersey going into Thursday's stage two.
"We came here with the team time trial as our first goal," said Oss after the finish. "This has been our speciality for a few years now. We love it and it all went as we wished. Other stages suit us and we want more results.
BMC won the opening TTT of the 2016 Tirreno-Adriatico
(Image credit: Watson)
"This is the first real race of the year for Tejay van Garderen. Apart from winning today, we wanted to position him as high as possible on GC. He's here with high ambitions for the overall."
Etixx-QuickStep had earlier set down a fast time, but ended up two seconds shy of BMC.
French squad FDJ were a surprise third at nine seconds. Having spent previous seasons finishing in the lower order of team time trials, off-season work on the team's time trialling and aerodynamics are now paying off considerably.
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British squad Team Sky finished eighth out of the 23 starters, 21 seconds behind BMC.
Team Sky placed 8th in the opening TTT of the 2016 Tirreno-Adriatico
(Image credit: Watson)
BMC's victory gives the team's leader Tejay van Garderen a handy head-start on his rivals. FDJ's Thibaut Pinot will be similarly pleased with his team's performance.
However, Rigoberto Uran of Cannondale was left with injuries and a two minute deficit after his team suffered a crash during the stage. It will be a tall order for the Colombian to claw back that time, even if he hasn't suffered any lasting injury from the incident.
Thursday's stage two of Tirreno-Adriatico has a relatively flat first half after the start in Camaiore before getting hilly in the final section toward Pomarance. It's a stage that should suit those riders using the race to hone their form ahead of the Classics - including BMC's Greg Van Avermaet.
Results
Tirreno-Adriatico 2016, stage one: Lido di Camaiore to Lido di Camaiore, 22.7km TTT
1. BMC Racing in 23-55
2. Etixx-QuickStep at 2 secs
3. FDJ at 9 secs
4. Tinkoff at 11 secs
5. IAM Cycling at 12 secs
6. Astana at 15 secs
7. Trek-Segafredo at 17 secs
8. Team Sky at 21 secs
9. Orica-GreenEdge at 25 secs
10. Movistar at 29 secs
Overall classification after stage one
1. Daniel Oss (Ita) BMC Racing in 23-55
2. Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing
3. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing
4. Taylor Phinney (USA) BMC Racing
5. Manuel Quinziato (Ita) BMC Racing
6. Damiano Caruso (Ita) BMC Racing at same time
7. Gianluca Bramibilla (Ita) Etixx-QuickStep at 2 secs
8. Yves Lampaert (Bel) Etixx-QuickStep
9. Bob Jungels (Lux) Etixx-QuickStep
10. Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Etixx-QuickStep at same time
Tinkoff placed fourth in the opening TTT of the 2016 Tirreno-Adriatico
(Image credit: Watson)
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