A suspenseful finale to the inaugural Hammer Series saw Team Sunweb win the 'Hammer Chase' team time trial while Team Sky won the overall title by one second.
Both teams came into the final straight of the course together in a finish more reminiscent of a sprint than a team time trial. A canny ride from Tao Geoghegan Hart saw Team Sky just edge out Sunweb who started with a 32-second deficit to the British squad.
For Team Sunweb coach Dirk Reuling, it was a mixed result as he explained the plan was to avoid the sprint finish. Despite losing the overall, Reuling was pleased to have taken the 'chase' win.
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"We did very a good TTT, doing a very smooth race where we were able to close 32 seconds on Team Sky. We overtook Sky as we knew we were better in the technical section, and we hoped to create a gap that was big enough to prevent a sprint against them," Reuling said. "Unfortunately, Sky closed the gap to us before last corner. In a crazy sprint we could not get past them anymore. So we finished second on GC, but as the fastest team of the day."
Sky's sports director Servais Knaven explained the team prepared for the possibility of Sunweb overtaking them during the stage, stressing the importance of making it through the final corner in the first position. Dutchman Danny van Poppel executed the plan for Sky who then proved to have the stronger legs in the sprint.
"At a certain moment, when you see them [Team Sunweb] coming, you know there's no chance you can stay in front of them. We already spoke about what we'd do if they passed us and how we were going to approach the final corner," Knaven said. "And everyone would have the same tactic, I would say, because being first through the last corner you have the biggest chance to win. That's what we focused on at the end.
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