The INEOS Grenadiers battled hard across a tough team time trial course to place fifth on day three at Paris-Nice.
Tackling the 28.4-kilometre route the team managed their efforts well, crossing the line with three riders at the finish in Nevers.
Tobias Foss led the charge into the final kilometre alongside Magnus Sheffield and Thymen Arensman. The result sees Sheffield sit 10th overall, 38 seconds behind new race leader Matteo Jorgenson (Visma | Lease a Bike). Foss is one place further back in 11th on GC, with Arensman 13th as the race heads towards the climbs.
Ben Swift and Josh Tarling pushed hard early, emptying the tank on the flat, with Bob Jungels pulling off on the day’s final climb. Sam Watson continued over the top before sitting up in the final kilometre, his work done, allowing Foss, Sheffield and Arensman to push on to the line.
The end result saw the team come home 32 seconds back on victors Visma | Lease a Bike.
Reaction
Tobias Foss: "I think we more or less managed to get what we were good for out. It was definitely hard on Josh and Bob and the bigger guys. They did a hard job on the flat. It was quite painful but I reckon we were quite equally strong and used the strength of Josh, especially in the fast parts, then the rest of us pushed on in the climbs. I reckon it was an okay team time trial. We could have probably done it better but that’s always how it is.
"The course maybe looks a bit flat but it was quite technical in the beginning with the track, and then in the end it was really hard, with never a lot of time to recover."