Orica-BikeExchange improves on 2015 worlds TTT result

Australia's Orica-Bike Exchange has edged out Team Sky to take third place in the team time trial at the world championships in Doha.

Orica-BikeExchange in Doha. Source: Getty

Orica-Bike Exchange finished 37.12sec behind race winner Etixx-QuickStep and second placed BMC, to improve on its fourth place in 2015.

“[It was a] Really great result and an outstanding effort from the team today,” said team director Matt White. “Everyone stepped up to another level as soon as we were down the ramp especially Michael Hepburn and Luke Durbridge.”

“Luke was doing one minute turns on the front and really made the difference in the finale whilst the track boys, Michael and Alexander Edmondson switched immediately into competition mode despite the different preparation they had after the Olympics.

“Big Svein Tuft, Daryl Impey and Michael Matthews were also outstanding and as we expected the whole team rode as a tight unit and produced the goods.

“We can hold our heads very high and be happy with our achievement, it was a very fast course with changing wind directions, but to be honest it was a fairly light wind and everyone had to deal with the same conditions.”