DSM-Firmenich earned a surprise victory in the first stage of the Vuelta a Espana on Saturday, as the third Grand Tour of the season began with a team time trial in heavy Barcelona rain.
Reigning Vuelta champion Remco Evenepoel and his Soudal Quick-Step team-mates completed fourth, with the Belgian showing pissed off at the finish of the race as a result of of the darkness and late begin time.
Jumbo-Visma, boasting three-time Vuelta winner Primoz Roglic and back-to-back Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard surprisingly struggled, coming in 32 seconds behind winners DSM to complete eleventh.
Italian rider Lorenzo Milesi gained the first purple jersey of the Vuelta as he was the first of the DSM riders to cross the line in the 14.8 kilometre team time trial.
“Of course (we didn’t expect this) but it’s an amazing feeling,” Milesi stated. “This win with all the team was so enjoyable and so good. It was actually emotional to observe all the (relaxation of the) race.
“We took some risks but had a good plan and stuck to the plan and it worked really well, so I’m very happy.”
Barcelona temperatures soared this week however forward of the race a thunderstorm hit the Catalan capital, creating slippery circumstances which led to a number of crashes on the technical course.
Second to start out, DSM set what seemed an early sturdy benchmark of 17 minutes 30 seconds, which penultimate starters Movistar Team completed a fraction of a second behind. The Spanish facet completed six seconds forward of EF Education-Easypost in third.
Ineos Grenadiers, led by former Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas, positioned eighth, 20 seconds behind the leaders.
Stage two on Sunday sees riders duel over 182 kilometres between Mataro and Barcelona’s Montjuic Castle.
❤️ Un sueño cumplido para Lorenzo Milesi. Primer día en La Vuelta, primer liderato. ¡Disfruta del minuto de La Roja!
❤️ A dream come true for Lorenzo Milesi. His first day at La Vuelta, his first lead, get pleasure from the minute of La Roja!@CarrefourES #CarrefourConLaVuelta #LaVuelta23 pic.twitter.com/2Z3OoQcRAH
— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) August 26, 2023
