Vuelta a Andalucía (st. 1)

Movistar Team duo within 20 seconds of first GC leader Wellens (LTS) in tough cobbled finish, start to a race with a majority of uphill arrivals.

Tim Wellens (LTS) repeated last year’s stage victory and GC lead at the grueling Alcalá de los Gazules slope (1.3km at 10%), on day one of the 2019 Vuelta a Andalucía, as the Movistar Team had two of its climbers performing well in the opening act of the Ruta del Sol with Rafa Valls and Carlos Verona.

The Spanish duo took 13th and 15th at a final climb which Héctor Carretero launched with a hard pace from the foot of the ascent, leaving only about 20 riders at the front including his two team-mates… and Edu Prades (19th), again at a very good level just behind Verona, despite an incident inside the final 2km. The group finished within 20 seconds, gaps which should open up even more at Friday’s crucial ITT -again with an uphill finish- at La Guardia de Jaén (16km).

Before that time trial, the Vuelta a Andalucía will tackle a predominantly sprinter-suited finish in Torredonjimeno on Thursday, also with a slight gradient at the end (3%), yet the considerable length of its route (216km) could alter the expected scenario.

Cover picture (c): Photo Gomez Sport