Matthews, Sunweb win world team time trial

Sep 17, 2017 - 4:11 PM Team Sunweb achieved the double at the road cycling world championships when their men's and women's teams won the team time trial events.

Giro d'Italia champion Tom Dumoulin, Lennard Kamna, Sam Oomen, Soren Kragh Andersen, Michael Matthews and Wilco Kelderman clocked 47 minutes 50.42 seconds on the 42.5km course to beat 2014 and 2015 champions BMC by 8.29 seconds.

Matthews was surprised that they were able to record the win.

"It's a bit of a shock," Matthews said.

"We were looking for a podium today so to get the win is really something really special.

"And the women's team won their world title also so it's a double world title for Team Sunweb."

Dumoulin felt it was a case of the team showing just how pwerful they can be when everything goes right.

"We may not be the best time trial team on paper but with this team anything is possible."

Team Sky, who were down from six to four men 11 km from the finish when Geraint Thomas and Owain Doull could not follow the pace of their teammates, took bronze, 22.35 off the pace.

Sky had fielded an awe-inspiring line-up with Thomas, Doull, Michal Kwiatkowski, Vasil Kiryienka, Gianni Moscon and Tour de France champion Chris Froome, but they were not all in the same form.

The finish time is taken on the fourth rider to cross the line.

The women's team clinched the title earlier on Sunday when Coryn Rivera, Leah Kirchmann, Ellen van Dijk, Lucinda Brand, Floortje Mackaij and Sabrina Stultiens clocked 55:41.63.

Source: AAP