Cycling: At the start of the Vuelta a España, the BMC team secured victory in the team time trial in Nimes. By a margin of six seconds, BMC relegated teams Quick-Step Floors and Sunweb to second and third place respectively. Australian Rohan Dennis (BMC) is the first wearer of the red jersey.
Bora-hansgrohe & Sunweb get a taste of leadership
The Vuelta is on! For several years now, the Vuelta a España has started with a team time trial. Today was the day too. In the French city of Nimes, 13,7 kilometers had to be covered. The course was described in advance as very angular and technical, which was immediately confirmed by the TV images. Some drivers had difficulties in the corners and with the road conditions. Among others, Darwin Atapuma (UAE), Jorge Arcas (Movistar) and Antwan Tolhoek (LottoNL-Jumbo) fell. But good times were also driven on the track. The Bora-hansgrohe team briefly took the lead before the other German team, Sunweb, was a tad faster.
Nobody can hold a candle to BMC
The German double lead did not last long. In just a few milliseconds, the Quick-Step Floors team snagged their spot in the sun. But the Belgians shouldn't stay ahead either, because the strongest team was yet to come. In the meantime, BMC had already made high demands. At the finish line was the first – and until the end only – time under 16 minutes: 15:58 for BMC and thus the victory at the start. As expected, Chris Froome and his Team Sky were also very strong. After 16:07 the clock stopped: fourth place! Second and third remained Quick-Step Floors and Sunweb. Romain Bardet lost a whopping 46 seconds behind the winners with his men from Ag2r. The Frenchman has to digest this pack first. Things went a little better for Alberto Contador and Trek-Segafredo. They ended up 35 seconds behind the winners.
Vuelta a España stage #1 daily classification
| PLATZ | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | BMC | 15:58 |
| 2. | Quick Step Floors | + 0: 06 |
| 3. | Sunweb | st |
| 4. | Sky | + 0: 09 |
| 5. | Orica Scott | + 0: 17 |
| 6. | Bora, hansgrohe | + 0: 21 |
| 7. | Lotto Soudal | + 0: 24 |
| 8. | Movistar | st |
| 9. | Bahrain-Merida | + 0: 31 |
| 10. | Katusha Alpecin | + 0: 33 |
Vuelta a España stage #1 general classification
| PLATZ | Driver | Country | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Rohan Dennis | Australia | BMC | 15:58 |
| 2. | Daniel Oss | Italy | BMC | st |
| 3. | Nicholas Roche | Ireland | BMC | st |
| 4. | Alessandro De Marchi | Italy | BMC | st |
| 5. | Damian Caruso | Italy | BMC | st |
| 6. | Tejay Van Garderen | USA | BMC | st |
| 7. | Yves Lampaert | Belgium | Quick Step Floors | + 0: 06 |
| 8. | David of the Cross | Spain | Quick Step Floors | st |
| 9. | Bob jungels | Luxembourg | Quick Step Floors | st |
| 10. | Julian Alaphilippe | France | Quick Step Floors | st |