Rapha Condor-JLT take Mzansi Tour team time trial

British squad beat MTN-Qhubeka in 5.5km prologue around Emmarentia Park, near Johannesburg.

Rapha Condor JLT

Former British road race champion Kristian House leads the Mzansi Tour in South Africa after his Rapha Condor-JLT team took today's prologue team time trial in Emmarentia Park, near Johannesburg.

Rapha, comprising of House, Richard Handley, Mike Cuming, Elliot Porter, Luke Grivell-Mellor and Hugh Carthy, completed the 5.5-kilometre course in six minutes and 37 seconds, four seconds faster than nearest challengers MTN-Qhubeka.

Synergy Baku, the team of Irish road race champion Matt Brammeier, finished third, five seconds off the pace.

This isn't the British team's first success in South Africa: in 2011, House won the seven-day national tour in the country after soloing to a brilliant victory in the opening stage.

The Mzansi Tour runs until Saturday, where it culminates in a criterium around the Blue Hills Estate.

Results
Mzansi Tour 2014, prologue: Emmarentia Park team time trial
1. Rapha Condor-JLT 5.5km in 6-37
2. MTN-Qhubeka at 0-04

3. Synergy Baku at 0-05

4. WCC Africa at 0-10

5. rad-net ROSE team at 0-13

General classification after stage one
1. Kristian House (GBr) Rapha Condor-JLT in 6-37

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Nick Bull is an NCTJ qualified journalist who has written for a range of titles, as well as being a freelance writer at Beat Media Group, which provides reports for the PA Media wire which is circulated to the likes of the BBC and Eurosport. His work at Cycling Weekly predominantly dealt with professional cycling, and he now holds a role as PR & Digital Manager at SweetSpot Group, which organises the Tour of Britain.