The least prized of the classification wins is the team classification, probably because it doesn't have a sponsor-pleasing jersey to go with, or any TV time on the podium at the end of each stage. It does allow a nice photo on the Champs Elysee at the end of the Tour, but, at least in Australia, most people are asleep by then. Still, it is another award for a team to pursue, and can add a bit to the tactics come the end of the race.
The Rules
Quite simple in this case, the time of the first three riders to cross the line are added together to get a team's time for each stage. In the case of the Team time trial, the time is taken for the fifth rider, and it is only counted once, rather than three times. It is also worth noting that it doesn't have to be the same 3 riders each time stopping the clock, it is simply whoever happens to be the first 3 on the team on the day.
The team with the least time at the end of the 21 stages wins!
Quite simple in this case, the time of the first three riders to cross the line are added together to get a team's time for each stage. In the case of the Team time trial, the time is taken for the fifth rider, and it is only counted once, rather than three times. It is also worth noting that it doesn't have to be the same 3 riders each time stopping the clock, it is simply whoever happens to be the first 3 on the team on the day.
The team with the least time at the end of the 21 stages wins!
The Tactics
I'm not necessarily the biggest fan of the team's classification, not only because it is a largely anonymous competition that isn't paid attention to until the final week or so of racing, if then. It is also not reflective of how the best team goes about winning a race, using its support riders as sacrificial lambs in aid of its lead rider. The team's classification, paradoxically, rewards the teams without much teamwork, and instead have a few riders who all finish highish up, mostly riding their separate races. It's probably a little unfair to throw this at the door of AG2R, last year's winners, who realistically weren't going to do any better than putting Peraud in 2nd, and Bardet did a sterling job to ride into 6th overall. Ben Gastauer was often the third man completing the stage for the French team, he was 22nd overall for GC, and he was key to them winning the team's classification by over 30 minutes. Most would have nominated Astana as the team of the race however, and Fuglsang and Kangert, who would have otherwise ridden to quite handy GC results, as they have done in the past, buried themselves for Nibali, putting Astana well out of the race for the team's award.
The race for this classification is won and lost in the mountains, as it is rare for three elite climbers to be on the same team, and if there are, at least one or two are domestiques in service of a GC leader. So normally it suits a team that doesn't have a clear leader and generally has three or more climbers trying to protect their GC position.
Later on in the race, some teams actually try and target the team's classification by putting riders into breaks and similar ruses, but normally it is functionally the same as trying to win any given stage, the only difference being that other teams threatened by the move will chase to bring them back.
I'm not necessarily the biggest fan of the team's classification, not only because it is a largely anonymous competition that isn't paid attention to until the final week or so of racing, if then. It is also not reflective of how the best team goes about winning a race, using its support riders as sacrificial lambs in aid of its lead rider. The team's classification, paradoxically, rewards the teams without much teamwork, and instead have a few riders who all finish highish up, mostly riding their separate races. It's probably a little unfair to throw this at the door of AG2R, last year's winners, who realistically weren't going to do any better than putting Peraud in 2nd, and Bardet did a sterling job to ride into 6th overall. Ben Gastauer was often the third man completing the stage for the French team, he was 22nd overall for GC, and he was key to them winning the team's classification by over 30 minutes. Most would have nominated Astana as the team of the race however, and Fuglsang and Kangert, who would have otherwise ridden to quite handy GC results, as they have done in the past, buried themselves for Nibali, putting Astana well out of the race for the team's award.
The race for this classification is won and lost in the mountains, as it is rare for three elite climbers to be on the same team, and if there are, at least one or two are domestiques in service of a GC leader. So normally it suits a team that doesn't have a clear leader and generally has three or more climbers trying to protect their GC position.
Later on in the race, some teams actually try and target the team's classification by putting riders into breaks and similar ruses, but normally it is functionally the same as trying to win any given stage, the only difference being that other teams threatened by the move will chase to bring them back.
The Contenders
Lotto NL-Jumbo are very much the sort of mediocre team that will be well suited to taking the win in this classification. They have 4 GC leaders, and whilst most of the media has said that this will sacrifice overall results (which I agree with), it is the proven method of being the best in the team's competition. Robert Gesink, Wilco Kelderman, Steven Kruiswijk and Laurens Ten Dam all go in as joint leaders, and all have achieved top 10 results at Grand Tours in recent years. They also have Sep Vanmarcke on board, who will put a few extra minutes in for them on the cobbled stage, you would think, though the team's classification is rarely that close.
Tinkoff-Saxo come in with Alberto Contador as their established leader, but they have a lot of other talented riders in the squad, like Rafal Majka and Roman Kreuziger who can both be relied upon to do good GC rides, in addition to helping Contador. Kreuziger has done so in the past, and Majka has been in very good form recently. In fact they won the classification in 2013, the year when Contador finished 4th, and spent the last week almost constantly on the attack. They also have a joker to play in Sagan, he will be on the hunt for green jersey sprint points in the main, but that will result in bonus seconds, doing well on hilly finishes and the cobbles, where other teams will struggle.
Movistar come into the race with Nairo Quintana as the stated leader, but it is very hard to have Alejandro Valverde in a team playing second fiddle to anyone, and many suspect that he is aiming at a strong GC result. In support there will be a host of strong climbers, no real standout third rider, and it will probably chop and change throughout the race who that is, but the third man on each stage won't be far off the pace. And if Quintana and Valverde both finish in the top 5 of GC, that will give them a lot of time to play with.
Sky have the overall favourite for the race in Chris Froome, and they will dedicate everything within their power to getting him the win. That has left them with little energy left for pushing on after they get dropped on a particular stage, and when they do get dropped they often just soft-pedal the rest of the stage to save energy. There may be an exception to that this season however, with Richie Porte, Geraint Thomas, Leopold Konig, Mikel Nieve, Wout Poels and Peter Kennaugh all on the long list for the team and all very good climbers, who are strong enough to set a strong pace and then maintain their efforts afterwards. Porte in particular will be raring to go after a disappointing series of mishaps forced him to quit before the big mountains in the Giro.
Trek Factory Racing are an outside shot at this classification, going along the lines of a few GC captains rather than a specific one protected. Haimar Zubeldia is good for an anonymous top 10-15 most years, Bob Jungels is a terrific young rider and could be in for a good GC if things go his way and Bauke Mollema has finished twice in the top 10 in the Tour and as high as 4th in the Vuelta. Arredondo has had an awful season, but he might be up for something special as well if he recovers some of his previous year's form.
Lotto NL-Jumbo are very much the sort of mediocre team that will be well suited to taking the win in this classification. They have 4 GC leaders, and whilst most of the media has said that this will sacrifice overall results (which I agree with), it is the proven method of being the best in the team's competition. Robert Gesink, Wilco Kelderman, Steven Kruiswijk and Laurens Ten Dam all go in as joint leaders, and all have achieved top 10 results at Grand Tours in recent years. They also have Sep Vanmarcke on board, who will put a few extra minutes in for them on the cobbled stage, you would think, though the team's classification is rarely that close.
Tinkoff-Saxo come in with Alberto Contador as their established leader, but they have a lot of other talented riders in the squad, like Rafal Majka and Roman Kreuziger who can both be relied upon to do good GC rides, in addition to helping Contador. Kreuziger has done so in the past, and Majka has been in very good form recently. In fact they won the classification in 2013, the year when Contador finished 4th, and spent the last week almost constantly on the attack. They also have a joker to play in Sagan, he will be on the hunt for green jersey sprint points in the main, but that will result in bonus seconds, doing well on hilly finishes and the cobbles, where other teams will struggle.
Movistar come into the race with Nairo Quintana as the stated leader, but it is very hard to have Alejandro Valverde in a team playing second fiddle to anyone, and many suspect that he is aiming at a strong GC result. In support there will be a host of strong climbers, no real standout third rider, and it will probably chop and change throughout the race who that is, but the third man on each stage won't be far off the pace. And if Quintana and Valverde both finish in the top 5 of GC, that will give them a lot of time to play with.
Sky have the overall favourite for the race in Chris Froome, and they will dedicate everything within their power to getting him the win. That has left them with little energy left for pushing on after they get dropped on a particular stage, and when they do get dropped they often just soft-pedal the rest of the stage to save energy. There may be an exception to that this season however, with Richie Porte, Geraint Thomas, Leopold Konig, Mikel Nieve, Wout Poels and Peter Kennaugh all on the long list for the team and all very good climbers, who are strong enough to set a strong pace and then maintain their efforts afterwards. Porte in particular will be raring to go after a disappointing series of mishaps forced him to quit before the big mountains in the Giro.
Trek Factory Racing are an outside shot at this classification, going along the lines of a few GC captains rather than a specific one protected. Haimar Zubeldia is good for an anonymous top 10-15 most years, Bob Jungels is a terrific young rider and could be in for a good GC if things go his way and Bauke Mollema has finished twice in the top 10 in the Tour and as high as 4th in the Vuelta. Arredondo has had an awful season, but he might be up for something special as well if he recovers some of his previous year's form.
The Verdict
Lotto NL-Jumbo look like the main candidates for the win in this category, if only because they will have at least three, if not 4, guys consistently up there to protect their own GC positions. There won't be many times when you see them finish ahead of the big GC guys, but they'll be there, plugging away in about 10th-15th each mountain stage.
Lotto NL-Jumbo look like the main candidates for the win in this category, if only because they will have at least three, if not 4, guys consistently up there to protect their own GC positions. There won't be many times when you see them finish ahead of the big GC guys, but they'll be there, plugging away in about 10th-15th each mountain stage.