UCI TTT World Champion Omega Pharma Quick-Step Cycling Team finished 3rd in the windy and flat 14km Stage 2 TTT at Tour of Qatar on Monday.
OPQS finished with a time of 16'17", which was enough to take the lead at the time by 1". However, BMC Racing Team finished with the best time of 16'07", and Sky ProCycling crossed the finish with a time of 16'12".
"We made the podium, and for being 10 seconds behind BMC, and 5 or 6 behind Sky, I think we did a very good time trial," Sports Director Brian Holm said. "Unfortunately, it wasn't fast enough, but that's life. We knew we would be close. I think we can be quite proud of our performance. We don't have all of the biggest TT specialists here, but everything went smoothly with who we do have. Everyone did their job. There was training before the TT — we did the loop two times — and everything went fine."
"As for the wind today, it's no big deal," Holm said. "Wind is wind. The riders were all quite fast. Of course it's hard wind here in Qatar. But, if it's windy for us, it's the same for everybody. Remember, we're a Belgium team. We always go into the crosswind!"
OPQS looks next to the 143km Stage 3 on Tuesday.
"Tomorrow we will do a few big laps — two or three," Holm said. "Sooner or later the group will split up. It split up yesterday and it will again tomorrow. If it doesn't, of course we will go for Cavendish in the bunch sprint. Sooner or later, though, the race will likely be just 20 or 30 riders at the finish. We have to be prepared. Races here for sure require concentration. If you lose it for five seconds you will get dropped. There is always a lot of crosswind, so it's very hard for riders here. You always have to be ready."