Etixx – Quick-Step with an eye on the Qatar team time trial

Etixx – Quick-Step with an eye on the Qatar team time trial

Our riders and staff collected important data following the tests which took place at the Ursel airfield, in Belgium.

With less than two weeks to go until the start of the World Championships in Doha, several Etixx – Quick-Step riders gathered for a short get together, as the team worked on the time trial, a discipline which saw our outfit enjoy many memorable and rewarding moments in the past seasons.

Two of these came at the Worlds, which Etixx – Quick-Step won in 2012 (Valkenburg) and 2013 (Firenze), and where our team will look to reclaim top honours in the fascinating event where you have to combine speed and precision, while keeping your focus at all times and carefully managing your resources.

Bob Jungels, Yves Lampaert, Tony Martin, Davide Martinelli, Niki Terpstra, Julien Vermote and Lukasz Wisniowski were the seven men who trained at the Ursel airfield, where the tests were divided into two parts: one focused on the slipstream and on changing turns at the front of the formation, and another one which saw the riders simulate the start of a race and the way they negotiate the roundabouts, which can be an important factor during the race.

"It was a good exercise, because the guys talked a lot about it and tried to find the best solutions every time. I feel the team have improved a lot following this tests, as it was really important to focus before the Worlds on the small details which can make the difference at the end of the day. We will announce our line-up for Doha next week, but I can already tell you that it's not going to be an easy decision, because all the guys are motivated", said sport director Tom Steels of the selection the team will make for the 40 km-long race held in the Qatar desert, on October 9th.

Photo credit: ©Florian Van Eenoo/PHOTONEWS