4th place in Orihuela’s opening time trial
01 February 2017

Comunitat Valenciana (st. 1) / Dubai (st. 2)

BMC opens significant gaps between Volta favorites in long TTT; Movistar Team just over a minute behind

Italy's Manuel Senni is the first leader of the 2017 Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana as his team, BMC Racing, claimed the win in the opening 37.9km TTT course in and around Orihuela, Alicante. A parcours comprising long straights, but also difficult slopes, where the Movistar Team squad conducted by José Luis Jaimerena tried to limit losses, in order to maintain Nairo Quintana with a shot at the overall result for the rest of the week.

Fifth fastest through the only official intermediate check, 11km in (after the most significant uphill sections), the Blues slightly upped their game, so as to reach the finish – with Castroviejo, Dayer Quintana, Amador, Jesús Herrada and De la Parte escorting their leader – in fourth spot, 1'02" behind the winners. The important time gaps created by this TTT could bring some interesting battles on Thursday, as the Alto del Montgó (Cat-3) comes only 6km before the finish in Denia.

At their second competitive front, the Dubai Tour, Carlos Barbero finished 21st behind Marcel Kittel (QST) in another sprint finish at Ras Al Khaimah (185km).

Results: Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana | Dubai Tour

Picture ©: Photo Gomez Sport