Team Sunweb complete double as men hold off BMC Racing and Team Sky
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Updated 17/09/2017 at 16:20 GMT
Team Sunweb completed the perfect first day of the UCI road world championships as their men followed the women in winning the team time-trial.
Netherland's Tom Dumoulin of Team Sunweb celebrates on the podium as the general leader after the fifth stage of the BinckBank Tour through Belgium and the Netherlands, 203,7 km from Riemst to Houffalize, on August 12, 2017 in Houffalize.
Image credit: Getty Images
Team Sunweb were one of the favourites for the team time-trial despite naming a line-up with an average age of just 24 for the championships.
However, they were led superbly by Giro d'Italia winner Tom Dumoulin as he, Lennard Kamna, Sam Oomen, Soren Kragh Andersen, Michael Matthews and Wilco Kelderman recorded a time of 47:50.42 which quickly put them ahead of their rivals, most notably Team Sky.
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 team mates, took bronze, 22.35 off the pace.
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Sunweb complete TTT double at World Championships
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.
Despite their impressive time, Sunweb faced an anxious wait as at one stage BMC were up on them and looked as if they may better their time.
But there were smiles in the tent as they were unable to do so, giving Sunweb victory in the men's to follow the women's triumph.
"It's crazy. First the women and now the men. The team was so homogenous," said Dutchman Dumoulin.
"We may not be the best time trial team on paper but with this team anything is possible."
Dumoulin will now turn his attention to the individual time-trial, where he will be facing off against La Vuelta winner Chris Froome.
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.
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