The Tour de France team time trial is back: The last five editions

The route starts along the Mediterranean before heading towards the Sagrada Família and the decisive climbs to the Olympic Stadium on Montjuïc.

The format will differ from previous Tour team time trials. The first rider from each squad will determine the team result, while every rider receives his own finishing time for the general classification. Team leaders can therefore gain time by attacking the final climbs, while dropped riders will lose every second to the finish.

Ahead of its return, here is a look back at the five most recent team time trials at the Tour de France.

The 2019 Tour de France opened in Brussels, where stage 2 featured a 27.6 kilometre team time trial through the Belgian capital. Jumbo-Visma delivered a commanding performance, stopping the clock at 28 minutes and 57 seconds. Team Ineos finished 20 seconds behind, with Deceuninck-Quick-Step a further second back.

Mike Teunissen retained the yellow jersey after his surprise victory on the opening stage. The Dutchman had taken the lead in the final kilometre after teammate Dylan Groenewegen crashed during the lead-out. Wout van Aert, making his Tour de France debut, claimed the white jersey following the time trial.

Steven Kruijswijk went on to finish third overall in Paris, while Team Ineos rider Egan Bernal secured the overall victory.

The Grand Départ in Brussels commemorated the 50th anniversary of Eddy Merckx’s first Tour de France triumph in 1969.

The 2018 Tour de France featured the longest team time trial of the five editions, with stage 3 covering 35.5 kilometres around Cholet in the Pays de la Loire. BMC Racing Team produced the fastest ride, finishing in 38 minutes and 46 seconds. Team Sky followed four seconds later, with Quick-Step Floors seven seconds behind the winners.

The victory propelled Greg Van Avermaet into the yellow jersey, taking the race lead from Peter Sagan after stage 2. The Belgian remained in yellow through the demanding cobbled stage to Roubaix, before Geraint Thomas took over the lead on the climb to La Rosière.

Richie Porte started the Tour as BMC’s main contender for the general classification. The stage win marked the team’s second Tour de France team time trial victory in three years, following its success in Plumelec in 2015.

Thomas went on to win the 2018 Tour de France, claiming the first overall victory of his career.

Stage 9 of the 2015 Tour de France featured a 28 kilometre team time trial, finishing on the steep Côte de Cadoudal in Plumelec. BMC Racing Team claimed victory by the narrowest of margins, beating Team Sky by just one second. Movistar completed the podium in third.

The route was unique among the five editions in this series, with the only categorised climb at the finish. After a rolling course, the riders faced the Côte de Cadoudal, a 1.7 kilometre ascent averaging 6.2 percent.

Chris Froome remained firmly in contention for the general classification and went on to secure his second Tour de France title in Paris. The stage took place on the eve of the race’s first rest day.

The 2013 Tour de France featured a 25 kilometre team time trial through Nice on stage 4. Orica-GreenEDGE claimed victory in 25 minutes and 56 seconds, securing the Australian team’s first Tour de France team time trial win.

The result moved Simon Gerrans into the yellow jersey, taking the race lead from Jan Bakelants. Two days later, Gerrans handed the maillot jaune to teammate Daryl Impey, who became the first African rider to wear yellow at the Tour de France.

Team Sky finished third with Chris Froome, who went on to claim the overall victory in Paris.

The time trial followed a chaotic opening stage in Bastia, where the Orica-GreenEDGE team bus became stuck beneath the finish line gantry. Organisers were forced to relocate the finish twice before the bus was eventually removed.

The 2011 Tour de France featured a 23 kilometre team time trial on stage 2, held on a circuit around Les Essarts in the Vendée. Garmin-Cervélo claimed the victory and moved Thor Hushovd into the yellow jersey.

The Norwegian took the race lead from Philippe Gilbert, who had won the opening stage at Mont des Alouettes and worn the maillot jaune for a single day. Hushovd remained in yellow until stage 9, when Thomas Voeckler took over the lead following a demanding day in the Massif Central.

Cadel Evans went on to win the 2011 Tour de France for BMC Racing Team.