Vuelta 2017 Favourites stage 1: Clash of time trial trains

According to tradition, the Vuelta a España begins with a team time trial. This year's TTT is played out on a pan-flat route of almost 14 kilometres. (Slideshow route/profile)

At 13.7 kilometres, the TTT is rather short. In 2016, the first race of the Vuelta amounted to 27.8 kilometres with Team Sky and Movistar finishing in the same time. Orica sat in third place and BMC in fourth – 6 seconds and 7 seconds down on the winners.

The 2017 UCI WorldTour took in two time trials and on both occasions BMC powered to the win. Their victory in the Tirreno-Adriatico was on a route that was similar to today’s. QuickStep came in second, while FDJ and Movistar finished in third in s.t. In the long and hilly TTT of the Volta a Catalunya BMC was awarded the victory after Movistar had been penalised for pushing, thus dropping to third in the updated stage results, 58 seconds behind BMC. Sky ended up second place in the results.

While both BMC and Sky bring strong squads to the 2017 edition of the Spanish Grand Tour, Movistar starts with a young squad lacking prowess against the clock.