Phinney fastest in Heerenven

The Trek-Livestrong and Jayco-Skins teams dominated the first day of proceedings at Olympia’s Tour, with American world track champion Taylor Phinney setting the fastest time on the 10 kilometre time trial. Phinney’s time was 17 seconds quicker than New Zealand team-mate Jesse Sergent.

Australia’s Luke Durbridge finished third on the prologue stage in Heerenven, putting him five seconds ahead of Jayco-Skins team-mate and Australian U23 Time Trial Champion Rohan Dennis in fifth. Dennis and Durbridge were split by Great Britain’s Alex Dowsett (Trek-Livestrong).

The Trek-Livestrong and Jayco-Skins riders claimed the top seven positions on the individual time trial, with Rabobank’s Martijn Keizer and Coen Vermelfoort the only riders not from the USA or Australian team to sneak into the top 10. Keizer finished in eighth place 43 seconds behind Phinney, while the same time gap gave Vermelfoort ninth.

The race continues with its first road stage tomorrow, a 156.1 kilometre journey from Heerenveen to Meppel. The time trial specialists will get another chance to show their abilities when the event ends on Saturday with a 9.5 kilometre individual race in Hoofddorp.

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