Wout Poels wins opening time trial at Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana
Team Sky's Wout Poels and Vasil Kiryienka finish first and third in the opening stage of the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana
World time trial champion Vasil Kiryienka was upstaged by one of his own teammates in his first test against the clock of 2016 at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, finishing 21 seconds down on Wout Poels in third.
Poels will wear the leader's jersey on stage two of the race, which returns after an eight-year hiatus, after a storming performance over the 16.25km course between Benicassim and Oropesa del Mar.
Chris Froome's trusted lieutenant at the 2015 Tour de France finished 15 seconds ahead of Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana) in a star-studded field that was surprisingly light on time triallists.
Astana and Sky shared the first four spots, with Diego Rosa finishing a second behind Kiryienka in fourth, with Gazprom-Rusvelo's Artem Ovechkin the only non-WorldTour rider to break the top 15.
Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, stage one: Benicassim-Oropesa del Mar (16.25km)
1. Wout Poels (Ned) Team Sky, 22-34
2. Luis Leon Sanchez (Esp) Astana, at 15s
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
3. Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Team Sky, at 21s
4. Diego Rosa (Ita) Astana, at 22s
5. Jesus Herrada (Esp) Movistar, at 26s
6. Victor Campenaerts (Bel) LottoNL-Jumbo, at 27s
7. Bob Jungels (Lux) Etixx-Quick Step, st
8. Leopold Konig (Cze) Team Sky, at 29s
9. Reto Hollenstein (Swi) IAM Cycling, at 30s
10. Imanol Erviti (Esp) Movistar, at 30
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
Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.
-
I’m having to tell people I’m still a cyclist despite the fact it’s not cool anymore
Bragging rights now belong to the paddleboarders
By Michael Hutchinson Published
-
Canyon Grail CF SL 7 AXS review: a gravel bike of two halves?
The integrated cockpit and aero tubing are somewhat at odds with the Grail's taller stack height
By Rachel Sokal Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers hire new head of engineering as reshuffle continues
Former British Cycling lead, Dr Billy Fitton, is the latest of a handful of new appointments within the British squad
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Overachiever: Cameron Wurf competed in the Amstel Gold, La Flèche Wallonne and an Ironman, all in just eight days
Cameron Wurf is both a member of Team Ineos Grenadiers and an accomplished professional long course triathlete who has racked up numerous World Tour and Ironman race finishes across his career.
By Kristin Jenny Published
-
‘I feel lucky to be alive’: Magnus Sheffield speaks for the first time about Gino Mäder’s fatal crash
The American describes what he saw at the Tour de Suisse, eight months after the tragedy
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tom Pidcock: Tour of Britain route 'not really ideal for me'
Brit says he wants to win home stage race, even if the course plays in Wout van Aert's favour
By Tom Davidson Published
-
This 39-year-old INEOS Grenadiers rider moonlights as a pro triathlete
A Jack of all trades, Cameron Wurf is a domestique for INEOS Grenadiers professional cycling team, but doubles as a successful pro triathlete.
By Kristin Jenny Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers' only female rider Pauline Ferrand-Prévot eyes road return
Mountain bike legend could be back in the peloton next year
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Egan Bernal has nose operation to help 'air passage' ahead of 2023
Procedure not thought to be connected to the life-threatening crash which affected Colombian last year
By Adam Becket Published
-
Tweets of the week: Ineos Grenadiers' three wise men, team jersey déjà vu and World Cup celebrations by bike
Here's our social media round-up, featuring a cycling all-star nativity
By Tom Davidson Published