{"id":2020844,"date":"2026-07-01T08:07:42","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T05:07:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2020844"},"modified":"2026-07-01T08:07:42","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T05:07:42","slug":"the-year-of-the-team-time-trial-how-teams-have-prepared-for-the-tour-de-france-opening-ttt-from-january-to-july","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2020844","title":{"rendered":"The year of the team time trial \u2013 How teams have prepared for the Tour de France opening TTT from January to July"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JGNFQoAf8aa3pDw5s4Z5Qk-2560-80.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article class=\"m-0 box-border flex flex-row items-center pr-2.5 gap-[15px] w-[278px] h-20 flex-none upnext-article-divider\" role=\"listitem\" aria-label=\"Recommended article 1 of 3\">\n<div class=\"relative flex-none w-20 h-20\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xYehNdGJyBUwNetTFTfRVL-160-80.jpg.webp 160w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xYehNdGJyBUwNetTFTfRVL-80-80.jpg.webp 80w\" sizes=\"80px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex items-center justify-center absolute w-4 h-6 left-0 top-0 bg-white\/90 flex-none z-[1]\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span class=\"font-normal text-base leading-[17px] tracking-[1.3px] uppercase text-black flex-none\">1<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-center justify-center gap-1.5 w-[173px] h-20 flex-none\">\n<p class=\"font-article-heading font-medium text-base leading-[21px] text-gray-800 w-[173px] line-clamp-3 group-hover:underline\">\n                                    Tour de France team-by-team guide \u2013 Line-up, leaders and ambitions for every squad on the start list\n                                <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"m-0 box-border flex flex-row items-center pr-2.5 gap-[15px] w-[278px] h-20 flex-none upnext-article-divider\" role=\"listitem\" aria-label=\"Recommended article 2 of 3\">\n<div class=\"relative flex-none w-20 h-20\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/WHEfA8PfrwjRikdcTccTK-160-80.png.webp 160w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/WHEfA8PfrwjRikdcTccTK-80-80.png.webp 80w\" sizes=\"80px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex items-center justify-center absolute w-[18px] h-6 left-0 top-0 bg-white\/90 flex-none z-[1]\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span class=\"font-normal text-base leading-[17px] tracking-[1.3px] uppercase text-black flex-none\">2<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-center justify-center gap-1.5 w-[173px] h-20 flex-none\">\n<p class=\"font-article-heading font-medium text-base leading-[21px] text-gray-800 w-[173px] line-clamp-3 group-hover:underline\">\n                                    Who will win the Tour de France 2026? Our definitive ranking of the favourites for the yellow jersey\n                                <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"m-0 box-border flex flex-row items-center pr-2.5 gap-[15px] w-[278px] h-20 flex-none\" role=\"listitem\" aria-label=\"Recommended article 3 of 3\">\n<div class=\"relative flex-none w-20 h-20\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-160-80.jpg.webp 160w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-80-80.jpg.webp 80w\" sizes=\"80px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex items-center justify-center absolute w-[18px] h-6 left-0 top-0 bg-white\/90 flex-none z-[1]\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span class=\"font-normal text-base leading-[17px] tracking-[1.3px] uppercase text-black flex-none\">3<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-center justify-center gap-1.5 w-[173px] h-20 flex-none\">\n<p class=\"font-article-heading font-medium text-base leading-[21px] text-gray-800 w-[173px] line-clamp-3 group-hover:underline\">\n                                    &#8216;Tadej keeps on surprising us&#8217; \u2013 The inside view on how UAE Team Emirates-XRG have constructed Tadej Poga\u010dar&#8217;s assault on a fifth Tour de France\n                                <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"page-content-onecol flex-1\nnews-article article\n\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"widget-area-group widget-area-group-2col flex flex-wrap box-border\">\n<div id=\"widgetArea16\" class=\"widget-area basis-full md:basis-2\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-2-3 page-widget-area-16\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"hero\" id=\"hero\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-hero widget-hero widget-hero-hero widget-hero widget-hero-fter-news\">\n<div class=\"news-article\">\n<header data-component-name=\"Article:Hero\">\n<nav class=\"breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\">\n<ol>\n<li>\nPro Cycling\n<\/li>\n<li>\nRacing\n<\/li>\n<li>\nRoad\n<\/li>\n<li>\nTour de France\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<h1>The year of the team time trial \u2013 How teams have prepared for the Tour de France opening TTT from January to July<\/h1>\n<div class=\"byline-social\">\n<div class=\"vds-byline-block flex flex-row flex-nowrap my-1.5 gap-2 text-left items-start justify-start\" data-component-name=\"Article:BylineBlock\">\n<p>Features<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-auto vds-simple-byline\"><span class=\"inline-block vds-author\"><br \/>\nBy<br \/>\nWill Jones <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex gap-1 vds-byline-with-avatar__meta\"><span class=\"vds-date block font-normal tracking-normal normal-case text-xs\"><br \/>\npublished<br \/>\n<time data-component-name=\"UI:DateTime\" datetime=\"2026-07-01T08:07:42Z\" class=\"relative-date\"><br \/>\n1 July 2026<br \/>\n<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"strapline\">&#8216;You need eight boys that really believe in each other&#8217; says Red Bull&#8217;s Jonny Wale as we also catch up with Alex Dowsett <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"text-gray-700 flex items-center mx-0 my-5 p-0 justify-start text-left\" id=\"affiliate-disclaimer\" data-component-name=\"AffiliateDisclaimer\" data-hawk-message=\"Affiliate disclaimer removed because hawk deemed there are no affiliate links on this page\">\n<p class=\"text-[color:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--text-color,inherit)] mb-2 text-[length:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--font-size,0.75rem)] leading-[18px] md:text-[13px] [&amp;&gt;a]:text-inherit [&amp;&gt;a]:underline\">\nWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here\u2019s how it works.\n<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-widget-type=\"contentparsed\" id=\"content\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-contentparsed widget-content widget-contentparsed-content widget-content-parsed widget-content-parsed-content_document \">\n<div class=\"wcp-item-content\">\n<section class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"box less-space hero-image-wrapper\">\n<figure class=\"mb-0\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JGNFQoAf8aa3pDw5s4Z5Qk-1920-80.jpg.webp 1920w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JGNFQoAf8aa3pDw5s4Z5Qk-1600-80.jpg.webp 1600w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JGNFQoAf8aa3pDw5s4Z5Qk-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JGNFQoAf8aa3pDw5s4Z5Qk-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JGNFQoAf8aa3pDw5s4Z5Qk-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JGNFQoAf8aa3pDw5s4Z5Qk-750-80.jpg.webp 750w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JGNFQoAf8aa3pDw5s4Z5Qk-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JGNFQoAf8aa3pDw5s4Z5Qk-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JGNFQoAf8aa3pDw5s4Z5Qk-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 600px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"font-article-copy text-(--image--text--color) font-article-copy mt-2\"><span class=\"caption-text font-article-copy\">Team time trials have been popular in 2026<\/span><span class=\"credit font-article-copy\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"article-body\" class=\"text-copy bodyCopy auto paywall-locker\">\n<div data-analytics-id=\"utility-bar\" id=\"utility-bar\" class=\"font-ui-heading flex justify-between items-center py-2 border-t border-b border-gray-300 border-solid mb-5 mx-auto\" data-component-name=\"UtilityBar\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"utility-bar\">\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div data-component-name=\"Social:Dropdown\" role=\"menu\" id=\"utilitybar__dropdown--share\" aria-labelledby=\"utilitybar__button--share\" class=\"absolute left-0 top-full w-44 bg-white rounded-md shadow-md border border-neutral-200 z-[9996] list-none m-0 py-2 px-3 border-solid\">\n<ul class=\"m-0!\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Facebook<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>X<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Pinterest<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Email<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-share-this-article\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nShare this article\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\"><span class=\"ml-1 inline-flex h-5 px-2 shrink-0 items-center justify-center self-center overflow-hidden whitespace-nowrap rounded-[10px] bg-primary-500 text-[11px] leading-none font-ui-heading font-semibold text-white\">0<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-join-the-conversation\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nJoin the conversation\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<p>Follow us<\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-add-us-as-a-preferred-source-on-google\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nAdd us as a preferred source on Google\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-subscribe-to-our-newsletter\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nSubscribe to our newsletter\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-d9ac5278-308b-4365-8821-aaee060e1841\">Much like the appearance of mince pies on supermarket shelves, it seems that races that are nominally Tour de France warm-ups get earlier every year. Even with this preparation creep, I cannot remember a year when any race before Opening Weekend had the eyes of the world on it, viewed through the lens of La Grand Boucle.<\/p>\n<p>The Tour this year starts with a team time trial, a format that according to Alex Dowsett, Performance Engineer at XDS Astana, has been on the decline for the last half decade. Choosing to open the biggest race of the year with this underutilised discipline, rather than slotting it at, say, the end of the first week, allows teams the chance to bid for the coveted yellow jersey immediately, and as such there has been renewed focus from many teams on specific preparations.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-d9ac5278-308b-4365-8821-aaee060e1841-2\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Paris-Nice featured a TTT, flying the flag for the unorthodox newer timing format where each rider gets an individual time, rather than the whole team given the time of the fourth or fifth rider, and not to be outdone the Crit\u00e9rium du Dauphin\u00e9 (or the Tour Auvergne-Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes, if you must) also featured one this year, no doubt in a bid to lure the biggest riders to its roads for a final tune-up, though an unsuccessful one.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-6 w-full overflow-hidden rounded-[10px] lg:my-8\" data-component-name=\"JwPlayer:Carousel\" data-jwp-carousel data-jwp-carousel-payload=\"{&quot;ids&quot;:{&quot;playerID&quot;:&quot;jYDCcabO&quot;,&quot;searchPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;divID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;fallbackPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;fallbackDivID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;key&quot;:&quot;X9\/mXVGac0NphghLH9hZaqWA5d3dhAM\/Ih07grnEyMLjuO2E&quot;,&quot;tintLogo&quot;:true,&quot;useSearchPlaylist&quot;:false,&quot;enabled&quot;:true},&quot;signPostingEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;signPostingLinkEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;waitForAdLoad&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnDesktop&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnMobile&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnTablet&quot;:false}\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-nowrap items-center justify-between gap-3 bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-header>\n<div class=\"flex min-w-0 shrink items-center\"><span class=\"inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-sm font-article-heading capitalize leading-5 text-white whitespace-nowrap\"><span class=\"jwp-carousel-title-desktop\">Latest Videos From<\/span><span class=\"jwp-carousel-brand inline-flex items-center\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/flexiimages\/gmvwmhupgi1715762145.svg\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] block h-[18px] w-auto shrink-0 brightness-0 invert\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"aspect-video w-full min-h-[200px] lg:min-h-[330px] relative overflow-hidden bg-black\" data-jwp-carousel-container>\n<div class=\"absolute inset-0 size-full items-center justify-center bg-white\" data-jwp-carousel-fallback><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/flexiimages\/gmvwmhupgi1715762145.svg\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] max-h-12 w-auto\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"min-h-[44px] bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting><a class=\"invisible block truncate text-sm font-bold leading-5 text-white underline decoration-solid underline-offset-2\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting-link href target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-jwp-carousel-signposting-title>Watch full video here: <\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The preparations for many teams, however, started in January, at a small series of one-day races in Mallorca, one of which was a TTT. I&#8217;ve already brought you a tech gallery, housing details of three unreleased (at the time) TT bikes, but I also took the opportunity while I was on the ground to sit down separately with Alex Dowsett, and Jonny Wale, Technical Performance Manager at Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe to take a deep dive into the format, dynamics, and preparation needed to do justice to this most specialist of disciplines.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-502c6521-b17a-4e6d-aed6-160e88561fc0\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gDRHxKQbx7ecmDkXDHzE3P-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gDRHxKQbx7ecmDkXDHzE3P-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gDRHxKQbx7ecmDkXDHzE3P-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gDRHxKQbx7ecmDkXDHzE3P-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gDRHxKQbx7ecmDkXDHzE3P-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gDRHxKQbx7ecmDkXDHzE3P-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">The Trofeo Ses Salines offered the first TTT test of 2026, all the way back in January <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"a-resurgent-discipline-3\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">A resurgent discipline<\/h2>\n<p id=\"elk-2dcbfd35-0490-40a6-a4aa-473017364173\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Sitting in a hotel lobby in an out-of-season beach resort, I asked Dowsett his thoughts on the demise and recent resurgence of the TTT as a discipline.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            You may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Jf7RxcbjXpwDyN826vMbVn-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Jf7RxcbjXpwDyN826vMbVn-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;You have to constantly feel things could go wrong&#8217; \u2013 Decathlon CMA CGM explain why Paul Seixas is racing the team time trial in Tour Auvergne-Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;Tadej keeps on surprising us&#8217; \u2013 The inside view on how UAE Team Emirates-XRG have constructed Tadej Poga\u010dar&#8217;s assault on a fifth Tour de France<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F9aNQKLW9rmhuXWVgxXCsH-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F9aNQKLW9rmhuXWVgxXCsH-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Altitude top-ups, recons, and down time \u2013 What are the yellow jersey hopefuls up to ahead of the Tour de France?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I think the reason TTTs took a back step was because it really showed the difference in rider rosters between teams in strength and depth, the depth of strength. And a team time trial really accentuates that,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;You could say it&#8217;s more like if you have a climbing team with riders more predisposed to be riding at 350, 400 watts on the front, because they&#8217;re between 50 and 60 kilos, and you&#8217;ve got all of those versus a team who are 70 to 80 kilo riders who are riding 500 watts on the front\u2026 That, in a team time trial, is going to be a huge difference in time. And I think the reason that they took a back step is they were having almost too much influence on races, in terms of overall race results and the individuals who would win or lose races.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-NDjivW2VRrQoHxXUkNWCfA\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-NDjivW2VRrQoHxXUkNWCfA slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__header\">Get The Leadout Newsletter<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<footer class=\"newsletter-form__footer \">By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The ebb and flow of the popularity of the TTT seems to have been on Wale\u2019s mind long far in advance of his joining Red Bull, along with Dan Bigham. A relative drought in the usage of the format, much like a suspicious lack of earthquakes in a tectonic zone, likely means something seismic is on the way.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-13613866-2351-44c8-824f-3fdeaccc07a4\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/GnZt67AvpyDb4KmfyKPtLY-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/GnZt67AvpyDb4KmfyKPtLY-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/GnZt67AvpyDb4KmfyKPtLY-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/GnZt67AvpyDb4KmfyKPtLY-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/GnZt67AvpyDb4KmfyKPtLY-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/GnZt67AvpyDb4KmfyKPtLY-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Red Bull won the first TTT of the year in Mallorca <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-8a49c850-1ecd-4278-ad25-a560f0984db7\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;It&#8217;s kind of why, when me and Dan first came to the team, we did put this big emphasis on it because you kind of see there&#8217;s been nothing for three or three four years now\u2026so oh, we&#8217;re probably going to get one,&#8221; Wale said. &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to feel like an oracle, but one appeared. I&#8217;m almost certain this year and next year we&#8217;ll have quite a few, and then it&#8217;ll probably die back down again.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"a-new-format-3\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">A new format<\/h2>\n<p id=\"elk-28c49089-292f-464f-a500-4f27f1919ab3\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Usually the team time for a team time trial (try saying that fast three times) is taken on the fourth rider to cross the line, or a similar point back in the roster, and all the riders who finish get that time (those who were dropped earlier would still lose time).<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            What to read next<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xYehNdGJyBUwNetTFTfRVL-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xYehNdGJyBUwNetTFTfRVL-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Tour de France team-by-team guide \u2013 Line-up, leaders and ambitions for every squad on the start list<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6UVQwoEXi5RjnZGn3ZMMAP-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6UVQwoEXi5RjnZGn3ZMMAP-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">From a crucial TTT to double Alpe d&#8217;Huez \u2013 The key stages that will decide the Tour de France<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/EdTPEB2xbWAUbuoLDCrwYm-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/EdTPEB2xbWAUbuoLDCrwYm-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Multi-coloured bar tape at the Tour de France? Bahrain Victorious emulate Dowsett&#8217;s TTT hack at Tour Auvergne-Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">This year, though, for the opening stage of the Tour, the format has been shaken up, with each rider receiving an individual time rather than a collective one. The team that wins is the team whose first rider finishes the fastest.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The popularity of this as a format varies from team to team, with Dowsett being in favour.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I like the concept\u2026 I do think that&#8217;s better than the minimum finishing requirement. It encourages a little bit more creativity too with pacing, which is nice, and with less consequence and less risk. So yeah, I think it\u2019s a good thing. I think it eases the pain of the difference between big teams and small teams.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Wale, on the other hand, is less of a fan, and is of the opinion that it reduces the \u2018team\u2019 part of the discipline.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;Personally I&#8217;m not a fan of the rider time taken on the first rider approach. I think it&#8217;s a spectacle, but I think the beauty of team time trialing is you have to finish with four or five, or however many they want to finish with, but you know, it&#8217;s that you have to strategically, tactically maximise the seven or eight riders.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"team-selection-3\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Team selection<\/h2>\n<p id=\"elk-18665ae9-676a-4086-97f0-081ca7784803\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">As the TTT occurs on stage 1 of this year&#8217;s Tour, the reward is not just the stage win, but the yellow jersey too. This, surely, will have an impact on team selection, though perhaps as times are individual it may be a case of simply delivering one&#8217;s GC leader to the foot of the final climb for the short-ish sprint to the summit.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Team selection for the Tour is as much a factor of budget as it is the ideal squad. Dowsett outlines the difficulties of trying to factor a TTT into signings and rider development.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;Some of that then comes down to budget as well; [rider] salaries are the highest cost, and we&#8217;ve seen, now more than ever, that the salaries of a lot of riders are going up. Not all teams could afford this and sometimes have to be really smart with their signings; targeting youth, targeting potential rather than heavy hitters\u2026 Expensive hitters,&#8221; he explained.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;And what then happens and when you must finish with four, you might have two super talents, and then they might be carrying two riders, whereas you might have another team with four super talents that can run to the finish. And the reality is, if you are at the final quarter or third of a team time trial, and you are those two really strong guys, you would likely be faster by yourselves than having to carry the other two.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-e05a2135-f27f-485d-8120-ff6bf0378592\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/cBAK2n8apGnW5TVaTKQ4Xi-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/cBAK2n8apGnW5TVaTKQ4Xi-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/cBAK2n8apGnW5TVaTKQ4Xi-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/cBAK2n8apGnW5TVaTKQ4Xi-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/cBAK2n8apGnW5TVaTKQ4Xi-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/cBAK2n8apGnW5TVaTKQ4Xi-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">The fourth rider rule made it so teams had to ensure they didn&#8217;t split up too much before the finish <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-a3087db8-21c2-4fa4-ad35-9b8cbba75d88\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">For Wale, who likely has access to a greater number of &#8216;expensive hitters&#8217; at Red Bull, Tour selection will be based to a not-insignificant degree on TTT performance, but it\u2019s not the be-all and end-all.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;Yes, team selection will be dependent on team time trialling performance. If you&#8217;ve got two guys, they both do the same role equally as well for the 20 days, but the first day one guy will do a better team time trial, then you would bring him,&#8221; he said. &#8220;But it&#8217;s also a motivating tool once these guys understand what the demands of the event are, and what we&#8217;re going to expect of them, then they&#8217;ve got six months to do their homework.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Curiously, despite having Remco Evenepoel in the squad, the focus appears to be primarily on the riders lower down in the roster. Riders who, it seems, can make or break the result.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;It&#8217;s your, I&#8217;ll call them &#8216;second tier&#8217; riders within time trialing in these Tour squads, they&#8217;re the guys that almost win it for you, because it&#8217;s seven or eight guys.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;If you put Remco with seven, eight climbers who never ride a time trial bike, you&#8217;re not going to win. So that was initially, when we came in, we really put that big focus in, even last year. That was all towards the Vuelta team time trial. It&#8217;s aero testing these second level guys, and building the culture of it as well.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"collective-benefits-3\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Collective benefits<\/h2>\n<p id=\"elk-e7daa1d0-b27e-472f-9859-aa786ef800e5\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Having a TTT on the cards from a long way out, with several opportunities to practice, means team selection (the long list at least) takes place further in advance of the Tour than usual to allow time for practice, be it in training or in these warm-up races.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">While this has additional challenges in terms of rider management, according to Wale it also presents a brilliant opportunity to truly build a team atmosphere, rather than a collection of individuals working towards a collective goal.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;When you add that team element to it it really bonds emotionally with a lot of people. It makes them do the dirty work they don&#8217;t want to do. They don&#8217;t want to do a team time trial session on the turbo and in the rain, or they don&#8217;t want to ride it two, three times a week. If you give them a purpose, because it&#8217;s their mates, it&#8217;s that collective bringing people together.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;It&#8217;s not as simple as having the right watts per kilo; in the Tour you need eight boys that really believe in each other. And opportunities like these [in Mallorca] are the training sessions. Even the little things like spending extra time together in the cafe, in the restaurant, in their rooms, you know? It brings them together and builds that team culture.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><em><strong>The world\u2019s biggest bike race deserves world-class coverage. Subscribe to Cyclingnews for unlimited access to our unrivalled reporting of the 2026 Tour de France. From Barcelona through to Paris, our experienced team will bring you breaking news, expert insight, and in-depth coverage from every stage as the battle for the yellow jersey plays out. Plus, access the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on the go! <\/strong><\/em><u><em><strong>Find out more.<\/strong><\/em><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"slice-container-authorBio-NDjivW2VRrQoHxXUkNWCfA\" class=\"slice-container slice-author-bio authorBio-NDjivW2VRrQoHxXUkNWCfA slice-container-authorBio\">\n<div class=\"author author__default-layout author--separator author--collapsible\" data-hydrate=\"true\">\n<div class=\"author__header\">\n<div class=\"author__avatar-block\">\n<figure class=\"image-wrapped__wrapper\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"false\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__widthsetter\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__aspect-padding\">\n<div><source class=\"author__avatar image-wrapped__image image__image\" type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rcdGNkZsAp22gXEbfMFpjU-140-80.jpg.webp 140w\" sizes=\"99vw\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rcdGNkZsAp22gXEbfMFpjU.jpg\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rcdGNkZsAp22gXEbfMFpjU.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rcdGNkZsAp22gXEbfMFpjU.jpg\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" data-slice-image=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__heading\">\n<div class=\"author__name\">Will Jones<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__social\">\n<nav class=\"button-social-group author__social-buttons\" aria-labelledby=\"button-social-group- author__social-buttons\">\n<div id=\"button-social-group- author__social-buttons\">Social Links Navigation<\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__role\">Senior Tech Writer<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__bio-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"author__biography\">\n<p>Will joined the Cyclingnews team as a reviews writer in 2022, having previously written for Cyclist, BikeRadar and Advntr. He\u2019s tried his hand at most cycling disciplines, from the standard mix of road, gravel, and mountain bike, to the more unusual like bike polo and tracklocross. He\u2019s made his own bike frames, covered tech news from the biggest races on the planet, and published countless premium galleries thanks to his excellent photographic eye. Also, given he doesn\u2019t ever ride indoors he\u2019s become a real expert on foul-weather riding gear. His collection of bikes is a real smorgasbord, with everything from vintage-style steel tourers through to superlight flat bar hill climb machines.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"relative max-w-[1070px] viafoura-twig-component mt-6 mx-4 lg:mx-0\" data-component-name=\"Viafoura:Comments\" data-nosnippet data-community-guidelines-text=\"&lt;p class=&apos;vfcustom-community-guidelines&apos;&gt;Please follow our &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/about\/#section-community-guidelines&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;community guidelines&lt;\/a&gt;.&lt;\/p&gt;\" data-join-the-conversation-text=\"Join the Conversation\">\n<div class=\"absolute top-0 left-0 w-full h-full flex items-center justify-center z-50 bg-white\/90 border-1 rounded-b-[var(--comment-widget-border-radius,0)]\">\n<div class=\"p-2 text-center\">\n<p class=\"mb-3 text-lg!\">You must confirm your public display name before commenting<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-3 text-sm!\">Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"mx-2 my-5 sm:mx-0\">\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-adviser:hybrid\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Read more<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Jf7RxcbjXpwDyN826vMbVn-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Jf7RxcbjXpwDyN826vMbVn-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Jf7RxcbjXpwDyN826vMbVn-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Jf7RxcbjXpwDyN826vMbVn-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Jf7RxcbjXpwDyN826vMbVn-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;You have to constantly feel things could go wrong&#8217; \u2013 Decathlon CMA CGM explain why Paul Seixas is racing the team time trial in Tour Auvergne-Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Tadej keeps on surprising us&#8217; \u2013 The inside view on how UAE Team Emirates-XRG have constructed Tadej Poga\u010dar&#8217;s assault on a fifth Tour de France<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F9aNQKLW9rmhuXWVgxXCsH-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F9aNQKLW9rmhuXWVgxXCsH-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F9aNQKLW9rmhuXWVgxXCsH-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F9aNQKLW9rmhuXWVgxXCsH-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F9aNQKLW9rmhuXWVgxXCsH-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Altitude top-ups, recons, and down time \u2013 What are the yellow jersey hopefuls up to ahead of the Tour de France?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xYehNdGJyBUwNetTFTfRVL-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xYehNdGJyBUwNetTFTfRVL-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xYehNdGJyBUwNetTFTfRVL-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xYehNdGJyBUwNetTFTfRVL-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xYehNdGJyBUwNetTFTfRVL-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Tour de France team-by-team guide \u2013 Line-up, leaders and ambitions for every squad on the start list<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6UVQwoEXi5RjnZGn3ZMMAP-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6UVQwoEXi5RjnZGn3ZMMAP-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6UVQwoEXi5RjnZGn3ZMMAP-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6UVQwoEXi5RjnZGn3ZMMAP-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6UVQwoEXi5RjnZGn3ZMMAP-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">From a crucial TTT to double Alpe d&#8217;Huez \u2013 The key stages that will decide the Tour de France<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/EdTPEB2xbWAUbuoLDCrwYm-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/EdTPEB2xbWAUbuoLDCrwYm-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/EdTPEB2xbWAUbuoLDCrwYm-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/EdTPEB2xbWAUbuoLDCrwYm-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/EdTPEB2xbWAUbuoLDCrwYm-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Multi-coloured bar tape at the Tour de France? Bahrain Victorious emulate Dowsett&#8217;s TTT hack at Tour Auvergne-Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-category\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in Racing<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/T8ybgLfee2TVxkKZuX9aZT-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/T8ybgLfee2TVxkKZuX9aZT-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/T8ybgLfee2TVxkKZuX9aZT-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/T8ybgLfee2TVxkKZuX9aZT-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/T8ybgLfee2TVxkKZuX9aZT-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;They&#8217;ll have the freedom to go for it&#8217; &#8211; Netcompany Ineos name experienced, versatile squad for 2026 Tour de France<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/T8toqLKcpSSXYECZ83xwHY-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/T8toqLKcpSSXYECZ83xwHY-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/T8toqLKcpSSXYECZ83xwHY-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/T8toqLKcpSSXYECZ83xwHY-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/T8toqLKcpSSXYECZ83xwHY-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Willunga Hill with a twist and a Stirling finale for double race days of 2027 Tour Down Under<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/sCJMNDvRKKpfRDLfG8eLdU-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/sCJMNDvRKKpfRDLfG8eLdU-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/sCJMNDvRKKpfRDLfG8eLdU-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/sCJMNDvRKKpfRDLfG8eLdU-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/sCJMNDvRKKpfRDLfG8eLdU-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">American Criterium Cup: New Zealand riders sweep elite races at Downer Classic in Wisconsin and hold off series leaders in tight sprints<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/z7b6qdBEfJfYrt4NBWKY9H-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/z7b6qdBEfJfYrt4NBWKY9H-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/z7b6qdBEfJfYrt4NBWKY9H-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/z7b6qdBEfJfYrt4NBWKY9H-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/z7b6qdBEfJfYrt4NBWKY9H-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Sprinter Tim Merlier spearheads Soudal-QuickStep&#8217;s first assault on Tour de France in post-Remco Evenepoel era<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BCZ8u8uUCDNe8jMM82YcAm-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BCZ8u8uUCDNe8jMM82YcAm-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BCZ8u8uUCDNe8jMM82YcAm-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BCZ8u8uUCDNe8jMM82YcAm-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BCZ8u8uUCDNe8jMM82YcAm-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Keegan Swenson wins a fourth SBT GRVL while Sofia Gomez Villafa\u00f1e makes late catch and pass of Sarah Lange in thrilling elite women&#8217;s race<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zantGmAoguwfRAJctuWQFa-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zantGmAoguwfRAJctuWQFa-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zantGmAoguwfRAJctuWQFa-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zantGmAoguwfRAJctuWQFa-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zantGmAoguwfRAJctuWQFa-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Club des Cinq: How Anquetil, Merckx, Hinault and Indurain won their fifth Tour de France, and the history that Tadej Poga\u010dar seeks to emulate<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-articletype\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in Features<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YQjyQHQHTFLJmgRoARpDSZ-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YQjyQHQHTFLJmgRoARpDSZ-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YQjyQHQHTFLJmgRoARpDSZ-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YQjyQHQHTFLJmgRoARpDSZ-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YQjyQHQHTFLJmgRoARpDSZ-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;A free mind equals fast legs&#8217; \u2013 How my mental state helped me wear the yellow jersey for two days at an unforgettable Tour Auvergne-Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YzVReE7BYHQc5qqJbJxp5Y-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YzVReE7BYHQc5qqJbJxp5Y-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YzVReE7BYHQc5qqJbJxp5Y-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YzVReE7BYHQc5qqJbJxp5Y-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YzVReE7BYHQc5qqJbJxp5Y-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Bikes<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Win Fin, Flow Fork, Speed Sniffer: Specialized launches &#8216;fastest road bike ever made&#8217; in the S-Works Tarmac SL9<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zantGmAoguwfRAJctuWQFa-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zantGmAoguwfRAJctuWQFa-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zantGmAoguwfRAJctuWQFa-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zantGmAoguwfRAJctuWQFa-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zantGmAoguwfRAJctuWQFa-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Club des Cinq: How Anquetil, Merckx, Hinault and Indurain won their fifth Tour de France, and the history that Tadej Poga\u010dar seeks to emulate<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/MrTDCTCzjt7SqaA6aiM33B-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/MrTDCTCzjt7SqaA6aiM33B-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/MrTDCTCzjt7SqaA6aiM33B-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/MrTDCTCzjt7SqaA6aiM33B-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/MrTDCTCzjt7SqaA6aiM33B-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Cycling Tech &amp; Components<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Eurobike Tech Gallery: Unreleased gravel machines, crazy aero builds and futuristic concept bikes<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ETHSCvhJmsvysUpX3yZeYJ-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ETHSCvhJmsvysUpX3yZeYJ-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ETHSCvhJmsvysUpX3yZeYJ-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ETHSCvhJmsvysUpX3yZeYJ-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ETHSCvhJmsvysUpX3yZeYJ-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Write off Jonas Vingegaard at your peril, but there is one thing that could let him down at this Tour de France<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/k47gPEqWS7qGhFA58fFsJW-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/k47gPEqWS7qGhFA58fFsJW-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/k47gPEqWS7qGhFA58fFsJW-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/k47gPEqWS7qGhFA58fFsJW-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/k47gPEqWS7qGhFA58fFsJW-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">With Oscar Onley out, what can Netcompany Ineos hope to achieve in this Tour de France \u2013 and in future ones?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"widgetArea17\" class=\"widget-area md:basis-1\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-1-3 page-widget-area-17\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"dynamic\" id=\"popular-data\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-dynamic widget-popular-data widget-dynamic-popular-data widget-dynamic-fter-popular-box\">\n<div class=\"wdn-fte-pb pos-relative space-t20\n\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-popularBox\" class=\"slice-container popular-box-slice popularBox slice-container-popularBox\">\n<section data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"popular-box\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label__tab popular-box__label__tab--active\" role=\"heading\">LATEST ARTICLES<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<ol class=\"popular-box__articles-list popular-box__articles-list--active\">\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__image-wrapper\">\n<div><source class=\"popular-box__article-list__image image__image\" type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JGNFQoAf8aa3pDw5s4Z5Qk-320-80.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JGNFQoAf8aa3pDw5s4Z5Qk-640-80.jpg.webp 640w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JGNFQoAf8aa3pDw5s4Z5Qk-720-80.jpg.webp 720w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JGNFQoAf8aa3pDw5s4Z5Qk-1280-80.jpg.webp 1280w\" sizes=\"99vw\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JGNFQoAf8aa3pDw5s4Z5Qk.jpg\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JGNFQoAf8aa3pDw5s4Z5Qk.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JGNFQoAf8aa3pDw5s4Z5Qk.jpg\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" data-slice-image=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">1<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">The year of the team time trial \u2013 How teams have prepared for the Tour de France opening TTT from January to July<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">2<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">Willunga Hill with a twist and a Stirling finale for double race days of 2027 Tour Down Under<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">3<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">&#8216;A free mind equals fast legs&#8217; \u2013 How my mental state helped me wear the yellow jersey for two days at an unforgettable Tour Auvergne-Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">4<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">American Criterium Cup: New Zealand riders sweep elite races at Downer Classic in Wisconsin and hold off series leaders in tight sprints<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">5<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">Giant overhauls gravel range with two new bikes and a suite of gravel components<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"page-content-onecol flex-1\nnews-article article\n\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"widget-area-group widget-area-group-2col flex flex-wrap box-border\">\n<div id=\"widgetArea16\" class=\"widget-area basis-full md:basis-2\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-2-3 page-widget-area-16\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"hero\" id=\"hero\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-hero widget-hero widget-hero-hero widget-hero widget-hero-fter-news\">\n<div class=\"news-article\">\n<header data-component-name=\"Article:Hero\">\n<nav class=\"breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\">\n<ol>\n<li>\nPro Cycling\n<\/li>\n<li>\nRacing\n<\/li>\n<li>\nRoad\n<\/li>\n<li>\nTour de France\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<h1>The year of the team time trial \u2013 How teams have prepared for the Tour de France opening TTT from January to July<\/h1>\n<div class=\"byline-social\">\n<div class=\"vds-byline-block flex flex-row flex-nowrap my-1.5 gap-2 text-left items-start justify-start\" data-component-name=\"Article:BylineBlock\">\n<p>Features<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-auto vds-simple-byline\"><span class=\"inline-block vds-author\"><br \/>\nBy<br \/>\nWill Jones <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex gap-1 vds-byline-with-avatar__meta\"><span class=\"vds-date block font-normal tracking-normal normal-case text-xs\"><br \/>\npublished<br \/>\n<time data-component-name=\"UI:DateTime\" datetime=\"2026-07-01T08:07:42Z\" class=\"relative-date\"><br \/>\n1 July 2026<br \/>\n<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"strapline\">&#8216;You need eight boys that really believe in each other&#8217; says Red Bull&#8217;s Jonny Wale as we also catch up with Alex Dowsett <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"text-gray-700 flex items-center mx-0 my-5 p-0 justify-start text-left\" id=\"affiliate-disclaimer\" data-component-name=\"AffiliateDisclaimer\" data-hawk-message=\"Affiliate disclaimer removed because hawk deemed there are no affiliate links on this page\">\n<p class=\"text-[color:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--text-color,inherit)] mb-2 text-[length:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--font-size,0.75rem)] leading-[18px] md:text-[13px] [&amp;&gt;a]:text-inherit [&amp;&gt;a]:underline\">\nWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here\u2019s how it works.\n<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-widget-type=\"contentparsed\" id=\"content\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-contentparsed widget-content widget-contentparsed-content widget-content-parsed widget-content-parsed-content_document \">\n<div class=\"wcp-item-content\">\n<section class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"box less-space hero-image-wrapper\">\n<figure class=\"mb-0\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JGNFQoAf8aa3pDw5s4Z5Qk-1920-80.jpg.webp 1920w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JGNFQoAf8aa3pDw5s4Z5Qk-1600-80.jpg.webp 1600w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JGNFQoAf8aa3pDw5s4Z5Qk-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JGNFQoAf8aa3pDw5s4Z5Qk-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JGNFQoAf8aa3pDw5s4Z5Qk-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JGNFQoAf8aa3pDw5s4Z5Qk-750-80.jpg.webp 750w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JGNFQoAf8aa3pDw5s4Z5Qk-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JGNFQoAf8aa3pDw5s4Z5Qk-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JGNFQoAf8aa3pDw5s4Z5Qk-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 600px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"font-article-copy text-(--image--text--color) font-article-copy mt-2\"><span class=\"caption-text font-article-copy\">Team time trials have been popular in 2026<\/span><span class=\"credit font-article-copy\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"article-body\" class=\"text-copy bodyCopy auto paywall-locker\">\n<div data-analytics-id=\"utility-bar\" id=\"utility-bar\" class=\"font-ui-heading flex justify-between items-center py-2 border-t border-b border-gray-300 border-solid mb-5 mx-auto\" data-component-name=\"UtilityBar\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"utility-bar\">\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div data-component-name=\"Social:Dropdown\" role=\"menu\" id=\"utilitybar__dropdown--share\" aria-labelledby=\"utilitybar__button--share\" class=\"absolute left-0 top-full w-44 bg-white rounded-md shadow-md border border-neutral-200 z-[9996] list-none m-0 py-2 px-3 border-solid\">\n<ul class=\"m-0!\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Facebook<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>X<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Pinterest<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Email<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-share-this-article\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nShare this article\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\"><span class=\"ml-1 inline-flex h-5 px-2 shrink-0 items-center justify-center self-center overflow-hidden whitespace-nowrap rounded-[10px] bg-primary-500 text-[11px] leading-none font-ui-heading font-semibold text-white\">0<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-join-the-conversation\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nJoin the conversation\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<p>Follow us<\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-add-us-as-a-preferred-source-on-google\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nAdd us as a preferred source on Google\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-subscribe-to-our-newsletter\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nSubscribe to our newsletter\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-d9ac5278-308b-4365-8821-aaee060e1841\">Much like the appearance of mince pies on supermarket shelves, it seems that races that are nominally Tour de France warm-ups get earlier every year. Even with this preparation creep, I cannot remember a year when any race before Opening Weekend had the eyes of the world on it, viewed through the lens of La Grand Boucle.<\/p>\n<p>The Tour this year starts with a team time trial, a format that according to Alex Dowsett, Performance Engineer at XDS Astana, has been on the decline for the last half decade. Choosing to open the biggest race of the year with this underutilised discipline, rather than slotting it at, say, the end of the first week, allows teams the chance to bid for the coveted yellow jersey immediately, and as such there has been renewed focus from many teams on specific preparations.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-d9ac5278-308b-4365-8821-aaee060e1841-2\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Paris-Nice featured a TTT, flying the flag for the unorthodox newer timing format where each rider gets an individual time, rather than the whole team given the time of the fourth or fifth rider, and not to be outdone the Crit\u00e9rium du Dauphin\u00e9 (or the Tour Auvergne-Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes, if you must) also featured one this year, no doubt in a bid to lure the biggest riders to its roads for a final tune-up, though an unsuccessful one.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-6 w-full overflow-hidden rounded-[10px] lg:my-8\" data-component-name=\"JwPlayer:Carousel\" data-jwp-carousel data-jwp-carousel-payload=\"{&quot;ids&quot;:{&quot;playerID&quot;:&quot;jYDCcabO&quot;,&quot;searchPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;divID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;fallbackPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;fallbackDivID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;key&quot;:&quot;X9\/mXVGac0NphghLH9hZaqWA5d3dhAM\/Ih07grnEyMLjuO2E&quot;,&quot;tintLogo&quot;:true,&quot;useSearchPlaylist&quot;:false,&quot;enabled&quot;:true},&quot;signPostingEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;signPostingLinkEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;waitForAdLoad&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnDesktop&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnMobile&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnTablet&quot;:false}\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-nowrap items-center justify-between gap-3 bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-header>\n<div class=\"flex min-w-0 shrink items-center\"><span class=\"inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-sm font-article-heading capitalize leading-5 text-white whitespace-nowrap\"><span class=\"jwp-carousel-title-desktop\">Latest Videos From<\/span><span class=\"jwp-carousel-brand inline-flex items-center\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/flexiimages\/gmvwmhupgi1715762145.svg\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] block h-[18px] w-auto shrink-0 brightness-0 invert\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"aspect-video w-full min-h-[200px] lg:min-h-[330px] relative overflow-hidden bg-black\" data-jwp-carousel-container>\n<div class=\"absolute inset-0 size-full items-center justify-center bg-white\" data-jwp-carousel-fallback><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/flexiimages\/gmvwmhupgi1715762145.svg\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] max-h-12 w-auto\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"min-h-[44px] bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting><a class=\"invisible block truncate text-sm font-bold leading-5 text-white underline decoration-solid underline-offset-2\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting-link href target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-jwp-carousel-signposting-title>Watch full video here: <\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The preparations for many teams, however, started in January, at a small series of one-day races in Mallorca, one of which was a TTT. I&#8217;ve already brought you a tech gallery, housing details of three unreleased (at the time) TT bikes, but I also took the opportunity while I was on the ground to sit down separately with Alex Dowsett, and Jonny Wale, Technical Performance Manager at Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe to take a deep dive into the format, dynamics, and preparation needed to do justice to this most specialist of disciplines.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-502c6521-b17a-4e6d-aed6-160e88561fc0\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gDRHxKQbx7ecmDkXDHzE3P-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gDRHxKQbx7ecmDkXDHzE3P-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gDRHxKQbx7ecmDkXDHzE3P-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gDRHxKQbx7ecmDkXDHzE3P-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gDRHxKQbx7ecmDkXDHzE3P-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gDRHxKQbx7ecmDkXDHzE3P-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">The Trofeo Ses Salines offered the first TTT test of 2026, all the way back in January <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"a-resurgent-discipline-3\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">A resurgent discipline<\/h2>\n<p id=\"elk-2dcbfd35-0490-40a6-a4aa-473017364173\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Sitting in a hotel lobby in an out-of-season beach resort, I asked Dowsett his thoughts on the demise and recent resurgence of the TTT as a discipline.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            You may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Jf7RxcbjXpwDyN826vMbVn-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Jf7RxcbjXpwDyN826vMbVn-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;You have to constantly feel things could go wrong&#8217; \u2013 Decathlon CMA CGM explain why Paul Seixas is racing the team time trial in Tour Auvergne-Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;Tadej keeps on surprising us&#8217; \u2013 The inside view on how UAE Team Emirates-XRG have constructed Tadej Poga\u010dar&#8217;s assault on a fifth Tour de France<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F9aNQKLW9rmhuXWVgxXCsH-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F9aNQKLW9rmhuXWVgxXCsH-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Altitude top-ups, recons, and down time \u2013 What are the yellow jersey hopefuls up to ahead of the Tour de France?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I think the reason TTTs took a back step was because it really showed the difference in rider rosters between teams in strength and depth, the depth of strength. And a team time trial really accentuates that,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;You could say it&#8217;s more like if you have a climbing team with riders more predisposed to be riding at 350, 400 watts on the front, because they&#8217;re between 50 and 60 kilos, and you&#8217;ve got all of those versus a team who are 70 to 80 kilo riders who are riding 500 watts on the front\u2026 That, in a team time trial, is going to be a huge difference in time. And I think the reason that they took a back step is they were having almost too much influence on races, in terms of overall race results and the individuals who would win or lose races.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-NDjivW2VRrQoHxXUkNWCfA\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-NDjivW2VRrQoHxXUkNWCfA slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__header\">Get The Leadout Newsletter<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<footer class=\"newsletter-form__footer \">By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The ebb and flow of the popularity of the TTT seems to have been on Wale\u2019s mind long far in advance of his joining Red Bull, along with Dan Bigham. A relative drought in the usage of the format, much like a suspicious lack of earthquakes in a tectonic zone, likely means something seismic is on the way.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-13613866-2351-44c8-824f-3fdeaccc07a4\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/GnZt67AvpyDb4KmfyKPtLY-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/GnZt67AvpyDb4KmfyKPtLY-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/GnZt67AvpyDb4KmfyKPtLY-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/GnZt67AvpyDb4KmfyKPtLY-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/GnZt67AvpyDb4KmfyKPtLY-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/GnZt67AvpyDb4KmfyKPtLY-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Red Bull won the first TTT of the year in Mallorca <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-8a49c850-1ecd-4278-ad25-a560f0984db7\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;It&#8217;s kind of why, when me and Dan first came to the team, we did put this big emphasis on it because you kind of see there&#8217;s been nothing for three or three four years now\u2026so oh, we&#8217;re probably going to get one,&#8221; Wale said. &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to feel like an oracle, but one appeared. I&#8217;m almost certain this year and next year we&#8217;ll have quite a few, and then it&#8217;ll probably die back down again.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"a-new-format-3\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">A new format<\/h2>\n<p id=\"elk-28c49089-292f-464f-a500-4f27f1919ab3\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Usually the team time for a team time trial (try saying that fast three times) is taken on the fourth rider to cross the line, or a similar point back in the roster, and all the riders who finish get that time (those who were dropped earlier would still lose time).<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            What to read next<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xYehNdGJyBUwNetTFTfRVL-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xYehNdGJyBUwNetTFTfRVL-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Tour de France team-by-team guide \u2013 Line-up, leaders and ambitions for every squad on the start list<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6UVQwoEXi5RjnZGn3ZMMAP-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6UVQwoEXi5RjnZGn3ZMMAP-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">From a crucial TTT to double Alpe d&#8217;Huez \u2013 The key stages that will decide the Tour de France<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/EdTPEB2xbWAUbuoLDCrwYm-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/EdTPEB2xbWAUbuoLDCrwYm-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Multi-coloured bar tape at the Tour de France? Bahrain Victorious emulate Dowsett&#8217;s TTT hack at Tour Auvergne-Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">This year, though, for the opening stage of the Tour, the format has been shaken up, with each rider receiving an individual time rather than a collective one. The team that wins is the team whose first rider finishes the fastest.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The popularity of this as a format varies from team to team, with Dowsett being in favour.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I like the concept\u2026 I do think that&#8217;s better than the minimum finishing requirement. It encourages a little bit more creativity too with pacing, which is nice, and with less consequence and less risk. So yeah, I think it\u2019s a good thing. I think it eases the pain of the difference between big teams and small teams.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Wale, on the other hand, is less of a fan, and is of the opinion that it reduces the \u2018team\u2019 part of the discipline.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;Personally I&#8217;m not a fan of the rider time taken on the first rider approach. I think it&#8217;s a spectacle, but I think the beauty of team time trialing is you have to finish with four or five, or however many they want to finish with, but you know, it&#8217;s that you have to strategically, tactically maximise the seven or eight riders.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"team-selection-3\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Team selection<\/h2>\n<p id=\"elk-18665ae9-676a-4086-97f0-081ca7784803\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">As the TTT occurs on stage 1 of this year&#8217;s Tour, the reward is not just the stage win, but the yellow jersey too. This, surely, will have an impact on team selection, though perhaps as times are individual it may be a case of simply delivering one&#8217;s GC leader to the foot of the final climb for the short-ish sprint to the summit.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Team selection for the Tour is as much a factor of budget as it is the ideal squad. Dowsett outlines the difficulties of trying to factor a TTT into signings and rider development.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;Some of that then comes down to budget as well; [rider] salaries are the highest cost, and we&#8217;ve seen, now more than ever, that the salaries of a lot of riders are going up. Not all teams could afford this and sometimes have to be really smart with their signings; targeting youth, targeting potential rather than heavy hitters\u2026 Expensive hitters,&#8221; he explained.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;And what then happens and when you must finish with four, you might have two super talents, and then they might be carrying two riders, whereas you might have another team with four super talents that can run to the finish. And the reality is, if you are at the final quarter or third of a team time trial, and you are those two really strong guys, you would likely be faster by yourselves than having to carry the other two.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-e05a2135-f27f-485d-8120-ff6bf0378592\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/cBAK2n8apGnW5TVaTKQ4Xi-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/cBAK2n8apGnW5TVaTKQ4Xi-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/cBAK2n8apGnW5TVaTKQ4Xi-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/cBAK2n8apGnW5TVaTKQ4Xi-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/cBAK2n8apGnW5TVaTKQ4Xi-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/cBAK2n8apGnW5TVaTKQ4Xi-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">The fourth rider rule made it so teams had to ensure they didn&#8217;t split up too much before the finish <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-a3087db8-21c2-4fa4-ad35-9b8cbba75d88\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">For Wale, who likely has access to a greater number of &#8216;expensive hitters&#8217; at Red Bull, Tour selection will be based to a not-insignificant degree on TTT performance, but it\u2019s not the be-all and end-all.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;Yes, team selection will be dependent on team time trialling performance. If you&#8217;ve got two guys, they both do the same role equally as well for the 20 days, but the first day one guy will do a better team time trial, then you would bring him,&#8221; he said. &#8220;But it&#8217;s also a motivating tool once these guys understand what the demands of the event are, and what we&#8217;re going to expect of them, then they&#8217;ve got six months to do their homework.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Curiously, despite having Remco Evenepoel in the squad, the focus appears to be primarily on the riders lower down in the roster. Riders who, it seems, can make or break the result.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;It&#8217;s your, I&#8217;ll call them &#8216;second tier&#8217; riders within time trialing in these Tour squads, they&#8217;re the guys that almost win it for you, because it&#8217;s seven or eight guys.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;If you put Remco with seven, eight climbers who never ride a time trial bike, you&#8217;re not going to win. So that was initially, when we came in, we really put that big focus in, even last year. That was all towards the Vuelta team time trial. It&#8217;s aero testing these second level guys, and building the culture of it as well.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"collective-benefits-3\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Collective benefits<\/h2>\n<p id=\"elk-e7daa1d0-b27e-472f-9859-aa786ef800e5\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Having a TTT on the cards from a long way out, with several opportunities to practice, means team selection (the long list at least) takes place further in advance of the Tour than usual to allow time for practice, be it in training or in these warm-up races.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">While this has additional challenges in terms of rider management, according to Wale it also presents a brilliant opportunity to truly build a team atmosphere, rather than a collection of individuals working towards a collective goal.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;When you add that team element to it it really bonds emotionally with a lot of people. It makes them do the dirty work they don&#8217;t want to do. They don&#8217;t want to do a team time trial session on the turbo and in the rain, or they don&#8217;t want to ride it two, three times a week. If you give them a purpose, because it&#8217;s their mates, it&#8217;s that collective bringing people together.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;It&#8217;s not as simple as having the right watts per kilo; in the Tour you need eight boys that really believe in each other. And opportunities like these [in Mallorca] are the training sessions. Even the little things like spending extra time together in the cafe, in the restaurant, in their rooms, you know? It brings them together and builds that team culture.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><em><strong>The world\u2019s biggest bike race deserves world-class coverage. Subscribe to Cyclingnews for unlimited access to our unrivalled reporting of the 2026 Tour de France. From Barcelona through to Paris, our experienced team will bring you breaking news, expert insight, and in-depth coverage from every stage as the battle for the yellow jersey plays out. Plus, access the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on the go! <\/strong><\/em><u><em><strong>Find out more.<\/strong><\/em><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"slice-container-authorBio-NDjivW2VRrQoHxXUkNWCfA\" class=\"slice-container slice-author-bio authorBio-NDjivW2VRrQoHxXUkNWCfA slice-container-authorBio\">\n<div class=\"author author__default-layout author--separator author--collapsible\" data-hydrate=\"true\">\n<div class=\"author__header\">\n<div class=\"author__avatar-block\">\n<figure class=\"image-wrapped__wrapper\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"false\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__widthsetter\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__aspect-padding\">\n<div><source class=\"author__avatar image-wrapped__image image__image\" type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rcdGNkZsAp22gXEbfMFpjU-140-80.jpg.webp 140w\" sizes=\"99vw\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rcdGNkZsAp22gXEbfMFpjU.jpg\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rcdGNkZsAp22gXEbfMFpjU.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rcdGNkZsAp22gXEbfMFpjU.jpg\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" data-slice-image=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__heading\">\n<div class=\"author__name\">Will Jones<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__social\">\n<nav class=\"button-social-group author__social-buttons\" aria-labelledby=\"button-social-group- author__social-buttons\">\n<div id=\"button-social-group- author__social-buttons\">Social Links Navigation<\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__role\">Senior Tech Writer<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__bio-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"author__biography\">\n<p>Will joined the Cyclingnews team as a reviews writer in 2022, having previously written for Cyclist, BikeRadar and Advntr. He\u2019s tried his hand at most cycling disciplines, from the standard mix of road, gravel, and mountain bike, to the more unusual like bike polo and tracklocross. He\u2019s made his own bike frames, covered tech news from the biggest races on the planet, and published countless premium galleries thanks to his excellent photographic eye. Also, given he doesn\u2019t ever ride indoors he\u2019s become a real expert on foul-weather riding gear. His collection of bikes is a real smorgasbord, with everything from vintage-style steel tourers through to superlight flat bar hill climb machines.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"relative max-w-[1070px] viafoura-twig-component mt-6 mx-4 lg:mx-0\" data-component-name=\"Viafoura:Comments\" data-nosnippet data-community-guidelines-text=\"&lt;p class=&apos;vfcustom-community-guidelines&apos;&gt;Please follow our &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/about\/#section-community-guidelines&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;community guidelines&lt;\/a&gt;.&lt;\/p&gt;\" data-join-the-conversation-text=\"Join the Conversation\">\n<div class=\"absolute top-0 left-0 w-full h-full flex items-center justify-center z-50 bg-white\/90 border-1 rounded-b-[var(--comment-widget-border-radius,0)]\">\n<div class=\"p-2 text-center\">\n<p class=\"mb-3 text-lg!\">You must confirm your public display name before commenting<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-3 text-sm!\">Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"mx-2 my-5 sm:mx-0\">\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-adviser:hybrid\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Read more<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Jf7RxcbjXpwDyN826vMbVn-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Jf7RxcbjXpwDyN826vMbVn-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Jf7RxcbjXpwDyN826vMbVn-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Jf7RxcbjXpwDyN826vMbVn-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Jf7RxcbjXpwDyN826vMbVn-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;You have to constantly feel things could go wrong&#8217; \u2013 Decathlon CMA CGM explain why Paul Seixas is racing the team time trial in Tour Auvergne-Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Tadej keeps on surprising us&#8217; \u2013 The inside view on how UAE Team Emirates-XRG have constructed Tadej Poga\u010dar&#8217;s assault on a fifth Tour de France<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F9aNQKLW9rmhuXWVgxXCsH-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F9aNQKLW9rmhuXWVgxXCsH-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F9aNQKLW9rmhuXWVgxXCsH-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F9aNQKLW9rmhuXWVgxXCsH-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F9aNQKLW9rmhuXWVgxXCsH-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Altitude top-ups, recons, and down time \u2013 What are the yellow jersey hopefuls up to ahead of the Tour de France?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xYehNdGJyBUwNetTFTfRVL-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xYehNdGJyBUwNetTFTfRVL-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xYehNdGJyBUwNetTFTfRVL-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xYehNdGJyBUwNetTFTfRVL-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xYehNdGJyBUwNetTFTfRVL-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Tour de France team-by-team guide \u2013 Line-up, leaders and ambitions for every squad on the start list<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6UVQwoEXi5RjnZGn3ZMMAP-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6UVQwoEXi5RjnZGn3ZMMAP-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6UVQwoEXi5RjnZGn3ZMMAP-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6UVQwoEXi5RjnZGn3ZMMAP-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6UVQwoEXi5RjnZGn3ZMMAP-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">From a crucial TTT to double Alpe d&#8217;Huez \u2013 The key stages that will decide the Tour de France<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/EdTPEB2xbWAUbuoLDCrwYm-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/EdTPEB2xbWAUbuoLDCrwYm-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/EdTPEB2xbWAUbuoLDCrwYm-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/EdTPEB2xbWAUbuoLDCrwYm-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/EdTPEB2xbWAUbuoLDCrwYm-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Multi-coloured bar tape at the Tour de France? Bahrain Victorious emulate Dowsett&#8217;s TTT hack at Tour Auvergne-Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-category\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in Racing<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/T8ybgLfee2TVxkKZuX9aZT-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/T8ybgLfee2TVxkKZuX9aZT-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/T8ybgLfee2TVxkKZuX9aZT-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/T8ybgLfee2TVxkKZuX9aZT-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/T8ybgLfee2TVxkKZuX9aZT-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;They&#8217;ll have the freedom to go for it&#8217; &#8211; Netcompany Ineos name experienced, versatile squad for 2026 Tour de France<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/T8toqLKcpSSXYECZ83xwHY-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/T8toqLKcpSSXYECZ83xwHY-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/T8toqLKcpSSXYECZ83xwHY-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/T8toqLKcpSSXYECZ83xwHY-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/T8toqLKcpSSXYECZ83xwHY-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Willunga Hill with a twist and a Stirling finale for double race days of 2027 Tour Down Under<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/sCJMNDvRKKpfRDLfG8eLdU-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/sCJMNDvRKKpfRDLfG8eLdU-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/sCJMNDvRKKpfRDLfG8eLdU-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/sCJMNDvRKKpfRDLfG8eLdU-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/sCJMNDvRKKpfRDLfG8eLdU-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">American Criterium Cup: New Zealand riders sweep elite races at Downer Classic in Wisconsin and hold off series leaders in tight sprints<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/z7b6qdBEfJfYrt4NBWKY9H-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/z7b6qdBEfJfYrt4NBWKY9H-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/z7b6qdBEfJfYrt4NBWKY9H-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/z7b6qdBEfJfYrt4NBWKY9H-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/z7b6qdBEfJfYrt4NBWKY9H-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Sprinter Tim Merlier spearheads Soudal-QuickStep&#8217;s first assault on Tour de France in post-Remco Evenepoel era<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BCZ8u8uUCDNe8jMM82YcAm-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BCZ8u8uUCDNe8jMM82YcAm-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BCZ8u8uUCDNe8jMM82YcAm-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BCZ8u8uUCDNe8jMM82YcAm-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BCZ8u8uUCDNe8jMM82YcAm-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Keegan Swenson wins a fourth SBT GRVL while Sofia Gomez Villafa\u00f1e makes late catch and pass of Sarah Lange in thrilling elite women&#8217;s race<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zantGmAoguwfRAJctuWQFa-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zantGmAoguwfRAJctuWQFa-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zantGmAoguwfRAJctuWQFa-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zantGmAoguwfRAJctuWQFa-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zantGmAoguwfRAJctuWQFa-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Club des Cinq: How Anquetil, Merckx, Hinault and Indurain won their fifth Tour de France, and the history that Tadej Poga\u010dar seeks to emulate<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-articletype\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in Features<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YQjyQHQHTFLJmgRoARpDSZ-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YQjyQHQHTFLJmgRoARpDSZ-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YQjyQHQHTFLJmgRoARpDSZ-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YQjyQHQHTFLJmgRoARpDSZ-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YQjyQHQHTFLJmgRoARpDSZ-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;A free mind equals fast legs&#8217; \u2013 How my mental state helped me wear the yellow jersey for two days at an unforgettable Tour Auvergne-Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YzVReE7BYHQc5qqJbJxp5Y-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YzVReE7BYHQc5qqJbJxp5Y-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YzVReE7BYHQc5qqJbJxp5Y-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YzVReE7BYHQc5qqJbJxp5Y-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YzVReE7BYHQc5qqJbJxp5Y-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Bikes<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Win Fin, Flow Fork, Speed Sniffer: Specialized launches &#8216;fastest road bike ever made&#8217; in the S-Works Tarmac SL9<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zantGmAoguwfRAJctuWQFa-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zantGmAoguwfRAJctuWQFa-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zantGmAoguwfRAJctuWQFa-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zantGmAoguwfRAJctuWQFa-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zantGmAoguwfRAJctuWQFa-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Club des Cinq: How Anquetil, Merckx, Hinault and Indurain won their fifth Tour de France, and the history that Tadej Poga\u010dar seeks to emulate<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/MrTDCTCzjt7SqaA6aiM33B-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/MrTDCTCzjt7SqaA6aiM33B-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/MrTDCTCzjt7SqaA6aiM33B-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/MrTDCTCzjt7SqaA6aiM33B-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/MrTDCTCzjt7SqaA6aiM33B-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Cycling Tech &amp; Components<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Eurobike Tech Gallery: Unreleased gravel machines, crazy aero builds and futuristic concept bikes<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ETHSCvhJmsvysUpX3yZeYJ-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ETHSCvhJmsvysUpX3yZeYJ-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ETHSCvhJmsvysUpX3yZeYJ-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ETHSCvhJmsvysUpX3yZeYJ-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ETHSCvhJmsvysUpX3yZeYJ-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Write off Jonas Vingegaard at your peril, but there is one thing that could let him down at this Tour de France<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/k47gPEqWS7qGhFA58fFsJW-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/k47gPEqWS7qGhFA58fFsJW-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/k47gPEqWS7qGhFA58fFsJW-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/k47gPEqWS7qGhFA58fFsJW-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/k47gPEqWS7qGhFA58fFsJW-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">With Oscar Onley out, what can Netcompany Ineos hope to achieve in this Tour de France \u2013 and in future ones?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"widgetArea17\" class=\"widget-area md:basis-1\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-1-3 page-widget-area-17\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"dynamic\" id=\"popular-data\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-dynamic widget-popular-data widget-dynamic-popular-data widget-dynamic-fter-popular-box\">\n<div class=\"wdn-fte-pb pos-relative space-t20\n\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-popularBox\" class=\"slice-container popular-box-slice popularBox slice-container-popularBox\">\n<section data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"popular-box\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label__tab popular-box__label__tab--active\" role=\"heading\">LATEST ARTICLES<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<ol class=\"popular-box__articles-list popular-box__articles-list--active\">\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__image-wrapper\">\n<div><source class=\"popular-box__article-list__image image__image\" type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JGNFQoAf8aa3pDw5s4Z5Qk-320-80.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JGNFQoAf8aa3pDw5s4Z5Qk-640-80.jpg.webp 640w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JGNFQoAf8aa3pDw5s4Z5Qk-720-80.jpg.webp 720w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JGNFQoAf8aa3pDw5s4Z5Qk-1280-80.jpg.webp 1280w\" sizes=\"99vw\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JGNFQoAf8aa3pDw5s4Z5Qk.jpg\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JGNFQoAf8aa3pDw5s4Z5Qk.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JGNFQoAf8aa3pDw5s4Z5Qk.jpg\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" data-slice-image=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">1<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">The year of the team time trial \u2013 How teams have prepared for the Tour de France opening TTT from January to July<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div 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riders sweep elite races at Downer Classic in Wisconsin and hold off series leaders in tight sprints<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">5<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">Giant overhauls gravel range with two new bikes and a suite of gravel components<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"news-article\">\n<header data-component-name=\"Article:Hero\">\n<nav class=\"breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\">\n<ol>\n<li>\nPro Cycling\n<\/li>\n<li>\nRacing\n<\/li>\n<li>\nRoad\n<\/li>\n<li>\nTour de France\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<h1>The year of the team time trial \u2013 How teams have prepared for the Tour de France opening TTT from January to July<\/h1>\n<div class=\"byline-social\">\n<div class=\"vds-byline-block flex flex-row flex-nowrap my-1.5 gap-2 text-left items-start justify-start\" data-component-name=\"Article:BylineBlock\">\n<p>Features<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-auto vds-simple-byline\"><span class=\"inline-block vds-author\"><br \/>\nBy<br \/>\nWill Jones <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex gap-1 vds-byline-with-avatar__meta\"><span class=\"vds-date block font-normal tracking-normal normal-case text-xs\"><br \/>\npublished<br \/>\n<time data-component-name=\"UI:DateTime\" datetime=\"2026-07-01T08:07:42Z\" class=\"relative-date\"><br \/>\n1 July 2026<br \/>\n<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"strapline\">&#8216;You need eight boys that really believe in each other&#8217; says Red Bull&#8217;s Jonny Wale as we also catch up with Alex Dowsett <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"text-gray-700 flex items-center mx-0 my-5 p-0 justify-start text-left\" id=\"affiliate-disclaimer\" data-component-name=\"AffiliateDisclaimer\" 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Here\u2019s how it works.\n<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"article-body\" class=\"text-copy bodyCopy auto paywall-locker\">\n<div data-analytics-id=\"utility-bar\" id=\"utility-bar\" class=\"font-ui-heading flex justify-between items-center py-2 border-t border-b border-gray-300 border-solid mb-5 mx-auto\" data-component-name=\"UtilityBar\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"utility-bar\">\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div data-component-name=\"Social:Dropdown\" role=\"menu\" id=\"utilitybar__dropdown--share\" aria-labelledby=\"utilitybar__button--share\" class=\"absolute left-0 top-full w-44 bg-white rounded-md shadow-md border border-neutral-200 z-[9996] list-none m-0 py-2 px-3 border-solid\">\n<ul class=\"m-0!\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Facebook<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>X<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Pinterest<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Email<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-share-this-article\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nShare this article\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\"><span class=\"ml-1 inline-flex h-5 px-2 shrink-0 items-center justify-center self-center overflow-hidden whitespace-nowrap rounded-[10px] bg-primary-500 text-[11px] leading-none font-ui-heading font-semibold text-white\">0<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-join-the-conversation\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nJoin the conversation\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<p>Follow us<\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-add-us-as-a-preferred-source-on-google\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nAdd us as a preferred source on Google\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-subscribe-to-our-newsletter\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nSubscribe to our newsletter\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-d9ac5278-308b-4365-8821-aaee060e1841\">Much like the appearance of mince pies on supermarket shelves, it seems that races that are nominally Tour de France warm-ups get earlier every year. Even with this preparation creep, I cannot remember a year when any race before Opening Weekend had the eyes of the world on it, viewed through the lens of La Grand Boucle.<\/p>\n<p>The Tour this year starts with a team time trial, a format that according to Alex Dowsett, Performance Engineer at XDS Astana, has been on the decline for the last half decade. Choosing to open the biggest race of the year with this underutilised discipline, rather than slotting it at, say, the end of the first week, allows teams the chance to bid for the coveted yellow jersey immediately, and as such there has been renewed focus from many teams on specific preparations.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-d9ac5278-308b-4365-8821-aaee060e1841-2\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Paris-Nice featured a TTT, flying the flag for the unorthodox newer timing format where each rider gets an individual time, rather than the whole team given the time of the fourth or fifth rider, and not to be outdone the Crit\u00e9rium du Dauphin\u00e9 (or the Tour Auvergne-Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes, if you must) also featured one this year, no doubt in a bid to lure the biggest riders to its roads for a final tune-up, though an unsuccessful one.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-6 w-full overflow-hidden rounded-[10px] lg:my-8\" data-component-name=\"JwPlayer:Carousel\" data-jwp-carousel data-jwp-carousel-payload=\"{&quot;ids&quot;:{&quot;playerID&quot;:&quot;jYDCcabO&quot;,&quot;searchPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;divID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;fallbackPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;fallbackDivID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;key&quot;:&quot;X9\/mXVGac0NphghLH9hZaqWA5d3dhAM\/Ih07grnEyMLjuO2E&quot;,&quot;tintLogo&quot;:true,&quot;useSearchPlaylist&quot;:false,&quot;enabled&quot;:true},&quot;signPostingEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;signPostingLinkEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;waitForAdLoad&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnDesktop&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnMobile&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnTablet&quot;:false}\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-nowrap items-center justify-between gap-3 bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-header>\n<div class=\"flex min-w-0 shrink items-center\"><span class=\"inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-sm font-article-heading capitalize leading-5 text-white whitespace-nowrap\"><span class=\"jwp-carousel-title-desktop\">Latest Videos From<\/span><span class=\"jwp-carousel-brand inline-flex items-center\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/flexiimages\/gmvwmhupgi1715762145.svg\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] block h-[18px] w-auto shrink-0 brightness-0 invert\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"aspect-video w-full min-h-[200px] lg:min-h-[330px] relative overflow-hidden bg-black\" data-jwp-carousel-container>\n<div class=\"absolute inset-0 size-full items-center justify-center bg-white\" data-jwp-carousel-fallback><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/flexiimages\/gmvwmhupgi1715762145.svg\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] max-h-12 w-auto\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"min-h-[44px] bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting><a class=\"invisible block truncate text-sm font-bold leading-5 text-white underline decoration-solid underline-offset-2\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting-link href target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-jwp-carousel-signposting-title>Watch full video here: <\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The preparations for many teams, however, started in January, at a small series of one-day races in Mallorca, one of which was a TTT. I&#8217;ve already brought you a tech gallery, housing details of three unreleased (at the time) TT bikes, but I also took the opportunity while I was on the ground to sit down separately with Alex Dowsett, and Jonny Wale, Technical Performance Manager at Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe to take a deep dive into the format, dynamics, and preparation needed to do justice to this most specialist of disciplines.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-502c6521-b17a-4e6d-aed6-160e88561fc0\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gDRHxKQbx7ecmDkXDHzE3P-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gDRHxKQbx7ecmDkXDHzE3P-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gDRHxKQbx7ecmDkXDHzE3P-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gDRHxKQbx7ecmDkXDHzE3P-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gDRHxKQbx7ecmDkXDHzE3P-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gDRHxKQbx7ecmDkXDHzE3P-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">The Trofeo Ses Salines offered the first TTT test of 2026, all the way back in January <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"a-resurgent-discipline-3\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">A resurgent discipline<\/h2>\n<p id=\"elk-2dcbfd35-0490-40a6-a4aa-473017364173\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Sitting in a hotel lobby in an out-of-season beach resort, I asked Dowsett his thoughts on the demise and recent resurgence of the TTT as a discipline.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            You may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Jf7RxcbjXpwDyN826vMbVn-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Jf7RxcbjXpwDyN826vMbVn-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;You have to constantly feel things could go wrong&#8217; \u2013 Decathlon CMA CGM explain why Paul Seixas is racing the team time trial in Tour Auvergne-Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;Tadej keeps on surprising us&#8217; \u2013 The inside view on how UAE Team Emirates-XRG have constructed Tadej Poga\u010dar&#8217;s assault on a fifth Tour de France<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F9aNQKLW9rmhuXWVgxXCsH-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F9aNQKLW9rmhuXWVgxXCsH-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Altitude top-ups, recons, and down time \u2013 What are the yellow jersey hopefuls up to ahead of the Tour de France?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I think the reason TTTs took a back step was because it really showed the difference in rider rosters between teams in strength and depth, the depth of strength. And a team time trial really accentuates that,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;You could say it&#8217;s more like if you have a climbing team with riders more predisposed to be riding at 350, 400 watts on the front, because they&#8217;re between 50 and 60 kilos, and you&#8217;ve got all of those versus a team who are 70 to 80 kilo riders who are riding 500 watts on the front\u2026 That, in a team time trial, is going to be a huge difference in time. And I think the reason that they took a back step is they were having almost too much influence on races, in terms of overall race results and the individuals who would win or lose races.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-NDjivW2VRrQoHxXUkNWCfA\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-NDjivW2VRrQoHxXUkNWCfA slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__header\">Get The Leadout Newsletter<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<footer class=\"newsletter-form__footer \">By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The ebb and flow of the popularity of the TTT seems to have been on Wale\u2019s mind long far in advance of his joining Red Bull, along with Dan Bigham. A relative drought in the usage of the format, much like a suspicious lack of earthquakes in a tectonic zone, likely means something seismic is on the way.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-13613866-2351-44c8-824f-3fdeaccc07a4\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/GnZt67AvpyDb4KmfyKPtLY-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/GnZt67AvpyDb4KmfyKPtLY-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/GnZt67AvpyDb4KmfyKPtLY-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/GnZt67AvpyDb4KmfyKPtLY-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/GnZt67AvpyDb4KmfyKPtLY-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/GnZt67AvpyDb4KmfyKPtLY-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Red Bull won the first TTT of the year in Mallorca <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-8a49c850-1ecd-4278-ad25-a560f0984db7\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;It&#8217;s kind of why, when me and Dan first came to the team, we did put this big emphasis on it because you kind of see there&#8217;s been nothing for three or three four years now\u2026so oh, we&#8217;re probably going to get one,&#8221; Wale said. &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to feel like an oracle, but one appeared. I&#8217;m almost certain this year and next year we&#8217;ll have quite a few, and then it&#8217;ll probably die back down again.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"a-new-format-3\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">A new format<\/h2>\n<p id=\"elk-28c49089-292f-464f-a500-4f27f1919ab3\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Usually the team time for a team time trial (try saying that fast three times) is taken on the fourth rider to cross the line, or a similar point back in the roster, and all the riders who finish get that time (those who were dropped earlier would still lose time).<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            What to read next<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xYehNdGJyBUwNetTFTfRVL-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xYehNdGJyBUwNetTFTfRVL-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Tour de France team-by-team guide \u2013 Line-up, leaders and ambitions for every squad on the start list<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6UVQwoEXi5RjnZGn3ZMMAP-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6UVQwoEXi5RjnZGn3ZMMAP-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">From a crucial TTT to double Alpe d&#8217;Huez \u2013 The key stages that will decide the Tour de France<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/EdTPEB2xbWAUbuoLDCrwYm-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/EdTPEB2xbWAUbuoLDCrwYm-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Multi-coloured bar tape at the Tour de France? Bahrain Victorious emulate Dowsett&#8217;s TTT hack at Tour Auvergne-Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">This year, though, for the opening stage of the Tour, the format has been shaken up, with each rider receiving an individual time rather than a collective one. The team that wins is the team whose first rider finishes the fastest.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The popularity of this as a format varies from team to team, with Dowsett being in favour.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I like the concept\u2026 I do think that&#8217;s better than the minimum finishing requirement. It encourages a little bit more creativity too with pacing, which is nice, and with less consequence and less risk. So yeah, I think it\u2019s a good thing. I think it eases the pain of the difference between big teams and small teams.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Wale, on the other hand, is less of a fan, and is of the opinion that it reduces the \u2018team\u2019 part of the discipline.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;Personally I&#8217;m not a fan of the rider time taken on the first rider approach. I think it&#8217;s a spectacle, but I think the beauty of team time trialing is you have to finish with four or five, or however many they want to finish with, but you know, it&#8217;s that you have to strategically, tactically maximise the seven or eight riders.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"team-selection-3\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Team selection<\/h2>\n<p id=\"elk-18665ae9-676a-4086-97f0-081ca7784803\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">As the TTT occurs on stage 1 of this year&#8217;s Tour, the reward is not just the stage win, but the yellow jersey too. This, surely, will have an impact on team selection, though perhaps as times are individual it may be a case of simply delivering one&#8217;s GC leader to the foot of the final climb for the short-ish sprint to the summit.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Team selection for the Tour is as much a factor of budget as it is the ideal squad. Dowsett outlines the difficulties of trying to factor a TTT into signings and rider development.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;Some of that then comes down to budget as well; [rider] salaries are the highest cost, and we&#8217;ve seen, now more than ever, that the salaries of a lot of riders are going up. Not all teams could afford this and sometimes have to be really smart with their signings; targeting youth, targeting potential rather than heavy hitters\u2026 Expensive hitters,&#8221; he explained.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;And what then happens and when you must finish with four, you might have two super talents, and then they might be carrying two riders, whereas you might have another team with four super talents that can run to the finish. And the reality is, if you are at the final quarter or third of a team time trial, and you are those two really strong guys, you would likely be faster by yourselves than having to carry the other two.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-e05a2135-f27f-485d-8120-ff6bf0378592\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/cBAK2n8apGnW5TVaTKQ4Xi-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/cBAK2n8apGnW5TVaTKQ4Xi-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/cBAK2n8apGnW5TVaTKQ4Xi-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/cBAK2n8apGnW5TVaTKQ4Xi-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/cBAK2n8apGnW5TVaTKQ4Xi-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/cBAK2n8apGnW5TVaTKQ4Xi-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">The fourth rider rule made it so teams had to ensure they didn&#8217;t split up too much before the finish <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-a3087db8-21c2-4fa4-ad35-9b8cbba75d88\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">For Wale, who likely has access to a greater number of &#8216;expensive hitters&#8217; at Red Bull, Tour selection will be based to a not-insignificant degree on TTT performance, but it\u2019s not the be-all and end-all.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;Yes, team selection will be dependent on team time trialling performance. If you&#8217;ve got two guys, they both do the same role equally as well for the 20 days, but the first day one guy will do a better team time trial, then you would bring him,&#8221; he said. &#8220;But it&#8217;s also a motivating tool once these guys understand what the demands of the event are, and what we&#8217;re going to expect of them, then they&#8217;ve got six months to do their homework.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Curiously, despite having Remco Evenepoel in the squad, the focus appears to be primarily on the riders lower down in the roster. Riders who, it seems, can make or break the result.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;It&#8217;s your, I&#8217;ll call them &#8216;second tier&#8217; riders within time trialing in these Tour squads, they&#8217;re the guys that almost win it for you, because it&#8217;s seven or eight guys.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;If you put Remco with seven, eight climbers who never ride a time trial bike, you&#8217;re not going to win. So that was initially, when we came in, we really put that big focus in, even last year. That was all towards the Vuelta team time trial. It&#8217;s aero testing these second level guys, and building the culture of it as well.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"collective-benefits-3\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Collective benefits<\/h2>\n<p id=\"elk-e7daa1d0-b27e-472f-9859-aa786ef800e5\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Having a TTT on the cards from a long way out, with several opportunities to practice, means team selection (the long list at least) takes place further in advance of the Tour than usual to allow time for practice, be it in training or in these warm-up races.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">While this has additional challenges in terms of rider management, according to Wale it also presents a brilliant opportunity to truly build a team atmosphere, rather than a collection of individuals working towards a collective goal.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;When you add that team element to it it really bonds emotionally with a lot of people. It makes them do the dirty work they don&#8217;t want to do. They don&#8217;t want to do a team time trial session on the turbo and in the rain, or they don&#8217;t want to ride it two, three times a week. If you give them a purpose, because it&#8217;s their mates, it&#8217;s that collective bringing people together.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;It&#8217;s not as simple as having the right watts per kilo; in the Tour you need eight boys that really believe in each other. And opportunities like these [in Mallorca] are the training sessions. Even the little things like spending extra time together in the cafe, in the restaurant, in their rooms, you know? It brings them together and builds that team culture.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><em><strong>The world\u2019s biggest bike race deserves world-class coverage. Subscribe to Cyclingnews for unlimited access to our unrivalled reporting of the 2026 Tour de France. From Barcelona through to Paris, our experienced team will bring you breaking news, expert insight, and in-depth coverage from every stage as the battle for the yellow jersey plays out. Plus, access the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on the go! <\/strong><\/em><u><em><strong>Find out more.<\/strong><\/em><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/racing\/the-year-of-the-team-time-trial-how-teams-have-prepared-for-the-tour-de-france-opening-ttt-from-january-to-july\/&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JGNFQoAf8aa3pDw5s4Z5Qk-2560-80.jpg&#8221;] 1 Tour de France team-by-team guide \u2013 Line-up, leaders and ambitions for every squad on the start list 2 Who will win the Tour de France 2026? Our definitive ranking of the favourites for the yellow jersey 3 &#8216;Tadej keeps on surprising us&#8217; \u2013 The inside view on how UAE Team Emirates-XRG [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,68],"class_list":["post-2020844","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-cyclingnews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2020844","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2020844"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2020844\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2020844"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2020844"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2020844"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}