TTT test run

I'm back in Florence for the second time this year and both times I've been here, it's been to watch cycling.

The UCI World Championships will take place in the city over the coming week, starting tomorrow with the team time trial. Today was the first day the organizers closed the course to cars, so teams took advantage of the opportunity to do some recon on the course.

Lotto Belisol is one of the few teams with both a men's and a women's squad.

Orica is another team with 2 squads. Unfortunately, there was a crash right where the team was to make a right hand turn, which causes some minor chaos temporarily but everyone seemed ok and they were up and going again a few minutes later.

Team Specialized-Lululemon led out by German road champion Trixi Worrack.

I picked my spot because it featured a decent straightaway, giving me time to spot the teams approaching, and because of the 90 degree left hand turn which forces the riders to slow down. Even with all that, I was too excited when I saw BMC, the first men's team on the course to approach, to take photos–oops–but I did get some clear shots of AG2R, the team of Canadian Hugo Houle and Frenchman Jean-Christophe Péraud who crashed out of the Tour de France after suffering a brutal crash during his warm up and then again in the same spot during his TT.

Cannondale with Peter Sagan (center), winner of Sunday's Grand Prix Montreal, and more importantly, my favorite Polish rider, Maciej Bodnar (behind Sagan).

Argos-Shimano.

For whatever reason, FDJ was heavily separated when the first 2 riders approached the left hand turn. This was great luck for me because the second rider in this photo is Canadian Dominique Rollin so there was time not only for me to cheer for him but also for him to recognize me and give me a friendly wave!

The second time BMC rode the course, I had my act together. Taylor Phinney, third from right.

In the BMC shot, you'll see a team fast approaching. Garmin! As usual, they hadn't announced their riders for the TTT until the last minute, so not only was I trying to take photos and cheer in general for the team, I was trying to pick out who would be riding in tomorrow's TTT–no easy task given their speed and visors but I managed to clearly pick out Andrew Talansky (center) and David Millar. Their squad will also include Rohan Dennis, Christian Vande Velde, Dave Zabriskie, and Tyler Farrar. What a team.

Katusha apparently couldn't be bothered to limit themselves to the required 6 man team and completed the course with 8 riders. Vladimir Isaichev, fith, in the white jersey of the Russian national champion.

Lotto Belisol with Andr Greipel at the front.

Defending TTT champions Omega Pharma-Quick Step are fielding a strong squad.

RadioShack Leopard Trek led out by Fabian Cancellara, aka Spartacus. Do you see any one behind the car? Nope? I didn't either, but everyone's favorite 42 year old cyclist was tucked in after the car. When he passed me I screamed, “GO JENS!” and, in true Jens style, he reached his arm back to give a happy wave despite riding at near full gas.

Orica-GreenEdge with my favorite Canadian to ride tomorrow, Svein Tuft, third from the right.

It's no secret that BMC is hungry for the win tomorrow, riding the technical section of the course through the city 3 times while the other men's teams just rode it once each.

It's a little hard to see due to the bright sun but Edvald Boassan-Hagen's helmet hasa huge Norwegian flag on it instead of the standard Sky black and blue.

Vacansoleil with Uzbek Sergey Lagutin on the far left behind Johnny Hoogerland in the Dutch national champion stripes. Juan Antonio Flecha was bringing up the rear.

Michael Mørkøv with the Danish national champion's jersey with Nick Roche of Saxo.

It soon became a bit of a free for all after the teams passed and the Under 23s and junior cyclists slotted to ride the individual time trial in the coming days took to the road. Go Canada!