The 69th Vuelta a España got off to a start tonight with a 12.6 kilometer team time trial. Many teams did course recon this morning or early afternoon when the heat was less intense, but MTN Qhubeka, being the first team to ride tonight, also showed up in time to do a practice lap.
Cannondale had to wait for Peter Sagan which gave me the opportunity to have a quick chat with Guillaume Boivin.
An impressive horse display was not lost on the riders.
AG2R started their recon from the top of the ramp and managed to avoid slamming into the horses at the bottom of the ramp.
Winner Anacona and Lampre.
Jose Serpa.
The only member of OPQS to ride the course this evening? TT world champion Tony Martin.
Meanwhile, the Movistar boys were the only team to ride the course a second time this evening.
The women who would hold the riders upright in advance of their start practiced with Vuelta race staff.
Their duties also included escorting MTN Qhubeka up the ramp, a honor reserved just for the first team to race the course tonight.
MTN Qhubeka.
Cofidis.
Europcar.
Giant Shimano.
AG2R.
Caja Rural.
IAM Cycling.
Orica GreenEdge.
Cannondale.
FDJ.
Lampre.
BMC.
Belkin.
Nathan Haas led Garmin onto the course.
With 7 of the 22 teams yet to begin, I spent some time walking through the buses on my way to the finish line.
There was a big crowd watching the Movistar riders warm up.
BMC had only just finished their TTT. Below: Manuel Quinziato, Dominik Nerz, and Philippe Gilbert.
Everyone at the Tinkoff bus just wanted to see Alberto Contador.
Over at the Garmin bus, bikes and fans waited for 9 argyle clad riders to cool down.
I love the seat height difference between Johan Vansummeren and Andrew Talansky.
A nice touch on David Millar's bike.
Nate Brown.
Koldo Fernandez and Nathan Haas recap the ride.
Millar and Talansky.
Garmin.
Lotto Belisol.
Bart De Clercq.
Chris Froome and Dario Cataldo and their Sky teammates couldn't crack the top 10 on the stage.
It can be really hard to get a shot of riders just beyond the finish line when they're flying at nearly 60 kilometers per hour! Below: Tinkoff.
See what I mean? Below: Movistar.
With 6 seconds in hand, Movistar snatched the win from runners up Cannondale.
Jonathan Castroviejo received the leader's red jersey.
He also received every other jersey and award available: climber's jersey, all around/combined jersey, most aggressive rider, and the points jersey.
