Team Garmin-Slipstream doubled-up on its wins today, with the U.S. national time trial champion David Zabriskie putting in a stellar performance on home soil to win the Tour of Missouri time trial. Zabriskie also moved into the overall lead and put significant time into all his challengers, beating the second-place rider by thirty seconds.
“You have to play it heads up to make sure big groups don’t go away,” said Zabriskie about his strategy for the first three days. But it had come down to the time trial. I know I put some good time into them [today] and that will help in the next few days.”
Zabriskie said that the course, a relatively flat but windy out-and-back from the Missouri State Fair Grounds, was one where measuring effort was key.
“A lot of it is just being aero and trying to feel the speed — on the way out it was not too difficult so that when it does get hard you have a reserve. I only looked at the first three and last three kilometers, those were the only ones that had turns and were really technical.”
When asked what is in store for the final two days of the race, Zabriskie was confident. “I think the team is very strong and we will be able to defend it.”
Zabriskie was also asked about his attack in the finishing circuits of Wednesday’s stage — for the win or just to stay on the front?
“It was more to stay safe but it would be nice to win the race. As soon as I did it there was a pile-up so it turned out it was a good move!”
Zabriskie is now the overall leader, something his teammate Christian Vande Velde was expected to hold, until he was forced to abandon the race with a broken hand. When asked if it would have been difficult racing against a teammate in the time trial, Zabriskie said it is all about the team.
“It wouldn’t have been a battle, it would have come down to this day — if he won I would have worked for him and if I won i’m sure he would have worked for me.”
