Pat McQuaid appreciates World Championships Team Time Trial event
UCI President, Pat McQuaid was delighted after the success of this year’s trading team time trial events and also noted that UCI will take the necessary steps to make the World Championships even more competitive.
The event was last seen as a part of World Championships back in 1994 and the return was hugely cheered by the crowd.
Team Omega Pharma-Quick Step claimed the men’s event while the German side, Team Specialized-Lululemon winning the women’s event of the race.
Tom Boonen, Sylvain Chavanel, Tony Martin, Niki Terpstra, Kristof Vandewalle and Peter Velits helped the Belgian side with a victory at the Team Time Trial Men’s event.
Team BMC, Team Orica GreenEdge, Team Liquigas-Cannondale and Team Rabobank claimed the next four positions in the respective order.
Charlotte Becker, Amber Neben, Evelyn Stevens, Ina Teutenberg, Eleonora Van Dijk and Trixi Worrack helped the women squad, Team Specialized-Lululemon with the first overall spot at the women’s event.
Team Orica-Ais, Team Aa Drink-Leontien.NI Cycling Team, Team Rabobank Cycling Team and Team Rusvelo occupying the second, third, fourth and the fifth positions respectively.
"I was very pleased with today. I knew for some weeks or months that the teams were approaching this very seriously,” Pat told Cyclingnews.
“There was wonderful participation from all the teams and when you see a close finish like that it's good for the race".
"It's an event that will grow in importance and strength in the coming years".
UCI President noted that the new events were introduced to attract more audience and to strengthen the World Championships.
Introducing the team’s time trial event has given an opportunity to the trading teams to make their appearance in the event that have previously been famous for the national teams.
"This was part of a whole project about changing the whole week of the world championships,” McQuaid concluded.
“Instead of having a worlds just over the final weekend we wanted to try and create a bigger event for the cycling family, for the whole week".
UCI President also briefed that introduction of the trading time trial event will help in promoting the women cycling which is amongst his top concerns.
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