Chris Froome surprised by early edge over Vuelta a España rivals
The Team Sky leader put 52 seconds into race favourite Alberto Contador in the opening team time trial, but sits neck and neck with Nairo Quintana and Alejandro Valverde
Chris Froome says that he was "surprised" to feel so good in Saturday's team time trial and to help Team Sky take an early advantage on day one of the Vuelta a España, which still must cover 3200km over three weeks.
Sky's victory in northwest Spain near Ourense helped put Froome take seconds on some and nearly a minute on three-time race winner Alberto Contador (Tinkoff).
"We're hoping we were going to do good time but I'm actually quite surprised that we able to win," Froome said off to the side after his podium duties.
"I was a bit surprised with how the legs feel. I did start conservatively and just shorter turns and then at the end, I took longer and harder pulls.
"I think Alberto Contador is in great form right now. It's three weeks so a lot can happen and it's a long way ahead, but for us it's great confidence boost for the team."
The team began slowly, clocking times slower than rivals BMC and Orica-BikeExchange at the first checks, and ramped its pace towards the end.
After 27.8-kilometres around the river in Ourense's wine-producing countryside, it beat Movistar by a fraction of a second. Pete Kennaugh led Sky over the line and took the red leader's jersey, which he will wear today in an expected sprint stage.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Froome circled key stages on the Vuelta a España's calendar just as he did ahead of the Tour de France.
"The last few days we had a good look at the course and thought about it thought about the technical course and thought about a lot how we are going to ride each part today, so in that sense it was a big goal for us," Froome said.
"Overall, the time trials and the uphill finishes are going to be the most decisive for the GC so it was a stage that we thought that we really need to bring our A-game."
Froome took time on his rivals in the Tour de France early on in particular moments, once racing solo downhill to Bagnères-de-Luchon and once attacking on the flat cross-wind roads to Montpellier. Other gains came in the two time trials.
The 31-year-old Brit and new dad is no machine, however. After racing the Tour and the Olympic road race and time trial, where he took the bronze medal, some questioned how much would be left in his tank for the Vuelta a España. Froome, too.
"It definitely put me in a great place, the team too. I'm obviously hoping to ride into this race and just stay out of trouble in the first half and hopefully right into the race in the second half."
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
Is your bike the noisest in the bunch? 13 steps to a silent ride
A quiet bike is a joy to ride, so here's how to banish unwanted noises - what to check for, how to fix it and why you shouldn't ignore what your bike is telling you
By Tim Russon Published
-
Cycplus Tiny E-Pump AS2 Review - an electric alternative to CO2
Small enough to fit in your pockets, it inflates to 100psi with a 200-second usage per charge
By Paul Grele Published
-
The art of peaking with Geraint Thomas: 'It’s easy to take for granted that 9 times out of 10 I hit my goals'
The Welshman also calls for better governance in the sport to help it grow further
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers’ 500th victory was claimed by a woman; why do they still not have a team?
The British squad is one of the richest in cycling - but Ineos still won’t stump up for a women’s team
By Adam Becket Published
-
'This is so much more than a number': Six of the best Ineos Grenadiers wins as team claims 500th race victory
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot took the 500th team win at the weekend
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock 'wouldn’t be surprised' to see attacks before the Poggio at Milan-San Remo
British rider will lead the line for Ineos Grenadiers alongside Filippo Ganna
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers delighted with Egan Bernal’s late cameo on stage one of Paris-Nice
Colombian snapped up key bonus seconds in the general classification battle on run in to Les Mureaux
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
‘It doesn’t change anything’ - Tom Pidcock’s coach on Tadej Pogačar at Strade Bianche
Kurt Bogaerts says the pressure is off for Pidcock as he looks to defend the title he emphatically won last year
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers say they will work with British Cycling to get Tour of Britain back on ‘as quickly as possible’
Ben Swift and Owain Doull both say it would be a "shame" were the Tour of Britain to be no more
By Adam Becket Published
-
‘We're now the hunter, not the hunted’ - New Ineos Grenadiers CEO commits to reclaiming top spot amongst WorldTour elite
John Allert outlines team’s targets and ambitions for 2024, including regaining Grand Tour dominance of old
By Tom Thewlis Published