Bevin latest Kiwi on podium
Patrick Bevin played a key role in BMC Racing’s significant victory in the team time trial on Monday (Tuesday NZT), completing the 35.5km course in 38min 46sec, four seconds ahead of Team Sky.
"It’s funny because at the end of the day it’s just another bike race. But this is the biggest one in the world and you get to stand up there on the podium with your team-mates, and having a teammate jump into the yellow jersey is another cool aspect," said Bevin, who is now the third New Zealand rider to triumph in team time trial at the Tour, following past successes from Julian Dean and Chris Jenner.
"This won’t be forgotten regardless of whatever happens between now and Paris."
BMC Racing were the fifth team to start the stage and they laid down the marker early, edging other leading contenders Team Sky (38:50) and MitcheltonScott (38:55), to land themselves in the hot seat.
Bevin said it was a nervous wait watching Quick-Step Floors complete the course, but once they crossed seven seconds back in 38:53 he knew his team had won. "They were the second to last team and they had a great ride. They were only seven seconds back and on a similar trajectory to us so you do have to wait. But even if you’re on the course and you are taking time back, it’s so technical and you have to nail every corner and every turn," he said.
"It’s not a forgone conclusion just because BMC has gone well in the past. You have to step up and deliver on the day and that’s not an easy thing to do on a Tour de France team time trial stage."
The result saw Bevin’s BMC Racing team-mate Greg Van Avermaet take the yellow jersey, while the team’s designated leader Richie Porte, who lost 51 seconds on the opening stage, is now up to 14th on the general classification.
"There’s a photo of the team on the podium with Greg in yellow and I think it’s one I will cherish for a long time."
BMC Racing has been a perfect fit for Bevin, who has been able to develop into one of the premier time trial riders on the World Tour. Already this year he has finished second in the time trial at the Tour of California and Tour of Basque Country and fifth at the Criterium du Dauphine. He was also part of the team that won the team time trial at TirrenoAdriatico. But he said his latest result will be hard to beat.
"I think this has to be [a career highlight]. To be a time trial winner at the Tour de France is going to be hard top that’s for sure. It’s been a great little journey over the past couple of months to come to this team and become part of a really tight team time trial unit.’’