With only two stages remaining and the biggest mountains already climbed, the 13.5-kilometer time trial Friday was decisive in determining the final general classification of the USA Pro Challenge.

Julien Bernard continued right where he left off Thursday, prolonging his strong form in the stage five ‘race against the clock’ to power around, and up and down, the windy, punchy course in a time of 19 minutes and 30 seconds. 

“I am satisfied with Julien's result – it is really good – but on the other hand when you see the classification he is very, very close to move up to seventh,” explained director Kim Andersen. “Actually, I was hoping that maybe he could move into the top seven, but okay, when he hopped on a new TT bike this morning for the first time I think we have to be realistic, too – I think he did a fantastic job.”

“I have to say I was dreaming for a little bit more, and when you see the results the dream could be realistic – it’s just 14 seconds and he’s seven, 16 seconds and he’s five – it’s really close. I think he fought well and I am really happy with this young guy”.

Sitting in ninth place coming into the decisive time trial and with everyone in the top 20 separated by seconds, Bernard knew it was a ‘make or break’ day; his finishing time put him in 20th place for the stage, enough to keep him in the top 10 overall (and only one second from ninth).

“We had two points [in the course] where he was a little too slow,” continued Andersen, “and we could see that in the car too, and he agreed. But that’s how it is – afterward we could easy find those 15 seconds, we know where he could have taken them. But it’s always easy to say, it’s never that easy to do.”

As expected, former hour record holder Rohan Dennis (BMC) mastered the Breckenridge course - which used the same steep hill and fast descent to the finish as Thursday’s stage four where he also outkicked everyone and took the win - stopping the clock at 18:11 to pad his lead in yellow to 44 seconds over teammate Brent Bookwalter. 

Canadian Rob Britton (Team Smartstop) leaped into third overall after finishing second in the time trial.

Two more stages remain in the Colorado stage race, and with the GC now close to settled both offer chances for breakaways to succeed.

“Not all of the team did the time trial full on, they did not make an easy day, but they rode without pressure as we want to save energy for the last two days,” said Andersen.

“The next days looks like it could be a sprint out of the peloton between 50-60 riders, but we need to try and look for the small chance that a breakaway can go to the end and be in them with 1 or 2 riders every day. And for sure try and defend the 10th place of Julien. You never know, things can still happen.”