Tour of Guangxi (st. 1)

Sütterlin on the move into final hills of short stage one in China, won by Dylan Groenewegen (TLJ).

The Movistar Team started its participation in the 2nd Tour of Guangxi (UCI WorldTour), end of the 2018 season for the Telefónica-backed men’s squad, with a 13th spot for Carlos Barbero at the inevitable bunch sprint on stage one -107km around Beihai-, comfortably won by Dylan Groenewegen (TLJ).

Absent into the early, six-man break -later reduced to a trio including Silvan Dillier (ALM), Yousef Mirza (UAD) and Andriy Grivko (AST)-, the Blues went on the move into the second, last KOM of the day. Jasha Sütterlin went after a late counter-attack by Gianni Moscon (SKY) and Peter Kennaugh (BOH), which was in turn brought back with 5km remaining.

Barbero and Sütterlin are certain to be the Movistar Team’s main references in this flat course, most stages suited for the fastest men in the field, en route to the decisive hilltop finish at Mashan Nongla’s scenic spot, Friday.

Picture 2 (c): Rhod Williams / Velon