Canyon Eisberg are celebrating victory in the Tour Series team time trial.
Harry Tanfield, Charlie Tanfield, Andrew Tennant, Chris Opie and Charles Page clocked a blistering time of 2min 19.162 for the 2km test in Stevenage.
That was 0.944sec faster than JLT Condor in second place and 1.301sec ahead of Madison Genesis.
The victory meant Tim Elverson’s squad closed to within one point of the series leaders ahead of this evening’s crit.
It was also a fourth triumph on the bounce after individual successes for Tennant and Harry Tanfield followed Jack Pullar’s hill climb win.
Vitus were the first out on to the course and they set the benchmark of 2:25.644 for the 2km test around Stevenage.
Morvelo Basso were unable to topple that time as they crossed the line almost two seconds adrift in 2:27.213.
And Vitus’ effort went unchallenged by Holdsworth, who only arrived at the round with four riders and then lost Tom Mazzone to a crash in the warm-up.
ONE Pro Cycling were not about to surrender, though. They cruised into the lead by more than four seconds with a time of 2:21.623.
The blue touchpaper had been lit and the scrap for vital points in the overall standings now began in earnest.
Team Wiggins were unable to threaten as they rolled over the line in 2:23.066 and next out on to the course were Canyon Eisberg.
The Tanfield brothers, Tennant, Opie and Page underlined their pedigree as they set a blistering time of 2:19.162.
The squad took 2.461sec out of ONE Pro and threw down the gauntlet to reigning champions JLT Condor and series leaders Madison Genesis.
It proved too hot to handle for JLT. Winners of four of the previous six Tour Series team time trials, they could only manage a 2:20.106.
That meant only Madison stood between Tim Elverson’s squad and another victory in this season’s championship.
And their effort of 2:20.463 was only good enough for third place as Canyon Eisberg closed to within a point of Madison at the top of the standings.
Afterwards, Tennant discussed the team’s tactics with VeloUK as they celebrated a fourth win on the spin.
Opie sprinted off the line, with Tennant tucking in ahead of the Tanfield brothers and Page. Tennant said:
“We pretty much worked out what our track capabilities are, with Opie as the fastest sprinter and Charles to finish it off.
“I just had to hang in there at the end. It was that simple really.”
World team pursuit champion Charlie Tanfield admitted there was nothing refined about their effort. He added:
“It was full bore. There was no finesse. It was just case of trying to keep it upright.”
His brother, Harry, who celebrated his maiden individual win in the Tour Series in Aberystwyth on Saturday, said:
“I think the tactics worked out well. We practised well and nailed our line-up.
“We overshot the corner a little bit on the last lap but overall I don’t think there was anything we would have changed.”
Overall standings: Madison Genesis 63; Canyon Eisberg 62; JLT Condor 61; Team WIGGINS 46; ONE Pro Cycling 44; Holdsworth Pro Racing 30; Morvelo Basso 29; Vitus Pro Cycling 29
