Gaviria (QST) first GC leader in Argentina

Blues keep front of the bunch, finish at Pocito with no time lost. Monday's stage set to mark GC positions before ITT after tough Perilago Punta Negra hill

Colombia’s Fernando Gaviria (QST) donned the first leader’s jersey in the 2018 Vuelta a San Juan as he won the opening stage, 149km from the province’s capital to the town of Pocito.

The Movistar Team completed the first day in Argentina with all of its six riders untroubled and into the main bunch, after a really fast race (exceeding 45kph average) where the squad directed by José Luis Jaimerena always kept the front of the group, while Bora, QuickStep and Trek controlled a seven-man breakaway with plenty of local riders.

#VueltaSJ2018 Fernando Gaviria (QST) gana la 1ª etapa de la @vueltasanjuanok en Pocito. Sin problemas para los Movistar Team en el pelotón. Mañana lunes, llegada con breve subida final en el Perilago Punta Negra. pic.twitter.com/az2fhXzWrh

— Movistar Team (@Movistar_Team) January 21, 2018

The Telefónica-backed squad will have another finish to keep full focus on on Monday, as the difficult, final circuit around the Perilago Punta Negra will include four climbs of a 1.3km, 8% gradient hill, which will be crested for the final time just 2km from the end of stage two.

Picture gallery (c): 1-3 / Ainara Hernando; 4-6 / BettiniPhoto.net