The Astana Pro Team claimed victory in the opening team time trial of this year’s Vuelta a España in Torrevieja today.
The team, who started in 16th position, completed the pan-flat 13.4km time-trial in 14:51.
They beat Deceuninck-Quick-Step by two seconds. Team Sunweb completed the podium.
The Astana team consisted of Miguel Angel Lopez, Manuele Boaro, Dario Cataldo, Omar Fraile, Jakob Fuglsang, Gorka Izagirre, Ion Izaguirre Insausti and Luis León Sánchez.
Lopez, who won this year’s Volta a Catalunya and Tour Colombia, also pulled on the first leader’s jersey of the 2019 race.
“I’m very pleased with how this has worked out, I have to enjoy this moment. Finally, I’m the leader in a major tour,” Lopez said.
The Colombian said his team now had to stay focused.
“We must be pleased with how we’ve started, but remember, too, that this is a race you have to win by getting through one day after another. Not just the first.”
View more results below.
Astana won the opening team time trial of this year’s Vuelta a España in Torrevieja today. Photo: Unipublic/Photogomez Sport
Stage one results
1. Astana Pro Team 14:51
2. Deceuninck-Quick-Step 14:53
3. Team Sunweb 14:56
4. EF Education First 14:58
5. Bora-Hansgrohe 15:04
6. CCC Team 15:06
7. Groupama-FDJ 15:08
8. Mitchelton-Scott 15:09
9. Lotto Soudal 15:10
10. Team Ineos 15:16
General classification
1. Miguel Angel Lopez (Col) Astana Pro Team 0:14:51
2. Dario Cataldo (Ita) Astana Pro Team
3. Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana Pro Team
4. Ion Izagirre Insausti (Spa) Astana Pro Team
5. Luis León Sanchez (Spa) Astana Pro Team
6. Gorka Izagirre Insausti (Spa) Astana Pro Team
7. Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Deceuninck-Quick-Step +0:00:02
8. Fabio Jakobsen (Ned) Deceuninck-Quick-Step
9. Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Deceuninck-Quick-Step
10. Maximiliano Ariel Richeze (Arg) Deceuninck-Quick-Step
*Selected
78. Louis Meintjes (RSA) Dimension Data +0:00:34
132. Jaco Venter (RSA) Dimension Data +0:01:13
134. Willie Smit (RSA) Katusha-Alpecin +0:01:17
163. Nicholas Dlamini (RSA) Dimension Data +0:02:21
