Astana, Trek-Segafredo and Bahrain-Merida work out on an auto course in Belgium ahead of Sunday's stage 2 test
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The 2019 Tour de France stage 2 team time trial course in Brussels isn't open for pre-riding yet, so teams ventured to the auto circuit in Zolder for a chance to hone their skills in the group race against the clock, with Astana, Bahrain-Merida and Trek-Segafredo taking the opportunity to dial in their gear, their timing and their strategy for Sunday's 27km test.
General classification contenders Richie Porte (Trek-Segafredo), Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) and Jakob Fuglsang (Astana) will need to rely on their teammates to keep them in the overall game in this early stage, where the Tour won't be won but could certainly be lost if disaster strikes. A good ride on stage 2 could also set up one of the other team riders to take the yellow jersey in the first week. With a lot on the line, the teams weren't leaving anything to chance.
Click or swipe through the Bettini gallery above for a look at what Nibali, Porte, Fuglsang and their teammates were up to today in Zolder.
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