Etixx-QuickStep reconquered the World Team Time Trial title after a two-yearreign by BMC Racing. The Belgian outfit rode the 40 kilometre course from Lusail to the Doha Pearl in 42:32.39 minutes, leaving the defending champions 11.69 behind in second place. Orica-Bike Exchange won a fierce battle for the bronze.

The six BMC riders took off from the starting ramp, with all others already underway. Ettix-Quickstep set the fastest intermediate time after completing the 13.6 square in Lusail before heading out for the straight road to The Pearl. BMC were three seconds behind, with Team Sky and Lotto-Jumbo and Giant Alpecin also within close range. Orica only set the sixth time in the first section, but the Australian squad picked up ace on the long straight towards The Pearl. Etixx and BMC were only 0.07 seconds apart at 26.4 kilometres with the Belgians still on top. With Etixx-Quickstep and BMC fighting in a two-horse race for the gold medal, Orica were looking to secure third place. Team Sky dropped Danny van Poppel early and Lotto-Jumbo had to continue with five, after Timo Roosen was left behind in the second section. Despite having dropped Alexander Edmonson and Michael Hepburn, Orica kept on pushing in the curvy and technical final section in The Pearl. Sky managed to stay ahead of Lotto-Jumbo, but Orica grabbed bronze with Luke Durbridge, Daryl Impey, Michael Matthews and Svein Tuft finishing in 43:09.51. Etixx stayed together very long, only to drop Julien Vermote at The Pearl. They were five coming onto the final straight with Yves Lampaert having to let the other four (Marcel Kittel, Bob Jungels, Tony Martin and Niki Terpstra) go, when Kittel pushed the team to the edge towards the finish line.
BMC, down to four men at The Pearl circuit, could not keep up the pace they maintained at the straight road from Lusail to Doha. Rohan Dennis, Stefan Klueng, Taylor Phinney and Manuel Quinziato finished 11.69 adrift. After gold in 2014 and 2015, BMC had to settle for silver in 2016. Etixx-QuickStep celebrated their third World TTT title, following their victories in 2012 and 2013.