Last year the course of the team time trial in the Vuelta a España proved too dagnerous at the eleventh hour and the times were not taken into account. Yet, World Champion went full gas and powered to the win, resulting in the red leaders jersey for Peter Velits.
This time no dangerous dust roads near the beach, so every team will have to give it their best. As always BMC is the team to beat. Orica-BikeExchange and Etixx-QuickStep are strong contenders, too.
The current season brought hardly any team time trials in World Tour races, which is striking. As a matter of fact, only the Tirreno-Adratico feautured an TTT with BMC besting Etixx-QuickStep by 2 seconds on a flat circuit at over 22 kilometres.
Favourites 1st stage Vuelta a España
*** BMC Racing Team, Orica-BikeExchange, Etixx-QuickStep
** Movistar, Tinkoff, Team Sky, IAM Cycling
* FDJ, LottoNL-Jumbo
Vuelta a España 2016 stage 1: Height profile, maps, and more
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