Jumbo-Visma power to Vuelta a España stage one team time trial victory
Robert Gesink into first red jersey of the race

Jumbo-Visma powered to team time trial victory on stage one of the Vuelta a España, comprehensively beating the 22 other squads to take the first red jersey of the race.
The Dutch squad, racing on home roads in Utrecht, put 13 seconds into Ineos Grenadiers in second, and 14 seconds into Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl. Their time of 24-40.29 meant they raced the route at an average speed of 56.665km/h
At no point did the team look in trouble, and they finished with all eight riders, despite only needing five in the front to post a time.
Robert Gesink crossed the line in first, ahead of defending champion Primož Roglič, meaning he goes into the first red jersey of the race.
BikeExchange-Jayco were the early favourites, but as conditions dried out and other powerhouse squads hit the road, they ended up in fourth.
The only general classification contenders to suffer any kind of blow were those of EF Education-EasyPost, who ended up conceding 1-19 to Jumbo-Visma.
How it happened
It was a drizzly start to the Vuelta a España in Utrecht on Friday, as the 23 teams took to the roads of the Dutch city for the stage one team time trial.
Burgos-BH were the first to start, already a man down as Manuel Peñalver was forced to withdraw before the race had even begun. They set a time of 26-38.38, meaning they travelled around the 23.3km course at 52.478 km/h.
It was not a long time for the Spanish ProTour team in the hot seat, however, as the second team to set off, Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert, beat their time by half a minute.
The first serious contenders to roll off the extended start ramp were BikeExchange-Jayco, the Australian squad riding in support of Simon Yates’ tilt at the red jersey.
Meanwhile, Israel-Premier Tech and then Groupama-FDJ both went fastest at the finish, with the latter finishing in 25-18.88.
However, BikeExchange proved that their favourites tag was deserved, as they set a new fastest time, 25-11.24, which meant they rode at an average speed of 55.504km/h. They were just seven seconds ahead of Groupama at the end, but this could have proved crucial.
By the time other favourites, such as Ineos Grenadiers and Bora-Hansgrohe had set off, the road had dried up considerably, which might have meant a faster time. Bora came close to BikeExchange’s time, coming in ten seconds down.
It would be UAE Team Emirates who next came close to challenging the BikeExchange supremacy, with the squad missing out on the hot seats by just a couple of seconds.
While this was happening, Ineos Grenadiers crossed the intermediate point quickest, five seconds ahead of the previous best set by Bora; this was quickly beaten by Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl, however, another of the favourites for the day.
Jumbo-Visma bested this time at the first checkpoint once again, powering through 14 seconds quicker than the previous best effort.
BikeExchange’s long time in the hot seat was ended by Ineos, as the British squad beat their Australian rivals by 18 seconds at the line, with an almost full complement of seven riders crossing the finish together. Their average pace was above 56km/h, such was their speed on the flat course.
Behind them, Quick-Step finished second behind Ineos, incredibly narrowly, finishing less than a second behind their rivals.
Movistar went out fast, possibly too fast, as they ended up 30 seconds behind Ineos, and lost three riders along the way.
This left Jumbo-Visma as the only team still out on the course, and as they came towards the line it was clear that the Dutch team, riding on home roads, was going to do something special. They went a whole 13 seconds quicker than Ineos, with Robert Gesink crossing the line in first and therefore topping the general classification.
Vuelta a España 2022: Stage one results
1. Jumbo-Visma, in 24-40
2. Ineos Grenadiers, at 13s
3. Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl, at 14s
4. BikeExchange-Jayco, at 31s
5. UAE Team Emirates, at 33s
6. Groupama-FDJ, at 38s
7. Bora-Hansgrohe, at 41s
8. Trek-Segafredo, at 42s
9. Bahrain-Victorious, at 42s
10. Movistar, at 43s
General classification after stage one
1. Robert Gesink (Ned) Jumbo-Visma, in 24-40
2. Primož Roglič (Slo) Jumbo-Visma
3. Chris Harper (Aus) Jumbo-Visma
4. Sepp Kuss (USA) Jumbo-Visma
5. Rohan Dennis (Aus) Jumbo-Visma
6. Edoardo Affini (Ita) Jumbo-Visma
7. Sam Oomen (Ned) Jumbo-Visma
8. Mike Teunissen (Ned) Jumbo-Visma, all at same time
9. Ethan Hayter (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers, at 13s
10. Richard Carapaz (Ecu) Ineos Grenadiers, at same time
Thank you for reading 10 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
Adam is Cycling Weekly’s senior news and feature writer – his greatest love is road racing but as long as he is cycling on tarmac, he's happy. Before joining Cycling Weekly he spent two years writing for Procycling, where he interviewed riders and wrote about racing, speaking to people as varied as Demi Vollering to Philippe Gilbert. Before cycling took over his professional life, he covered ecclesiastical matters at the world’s largest Anglican newspaper and politics at Business Insider. Don't ask how that is related to cycling.
-
-
‘Moments to live and remember’: Roglič set to win the pink jersey after winning extraordinary penultimate stage of the Giro d’Italia
Thomas loses the pink jersey to Slovenian by just 14 seconds
By Stephen Puddicombe • Published
-
The best Memorial Day deals for cyclists
Memorial Day is coming up in the United States. We've rounded up the best Memorial Day deals for cyclists including bikes, apparel, gear and accessories.
By Anne-Marije Rook • Published
-
‘I was sick everywhere’ - Brit Tom Gloag fights illness and embraces 'ignorance' at Giro d’Italia
The 21-year-old Londoner on his dramatic debut Grand Tour call up, throwing up on a climb, and trying to help his Jumbo-Visma team
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
'We just hope for the best, huh' - Covid's return impacts Giro d'Italia
Jumbo-Visma, Bahrain-Victorious and Trek-Segafredo have all been affected by the virus in the run up to the race
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Jumbo-Visma perfect until it really mattered: Five things we learned from the men's cobbled Classic season
Tadej Pogačar should be lining up a tilt at Paris-Roubaix, Mathieu van der Poel has won almost everything he can, and Ineos Grenadiers underwhelmed
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'All the pressure was on him': Philippe Gilbert impressed by Kasper Asgreen’s form ahead of Paris-Roubaix
Danish rider finished seventh for Soudal Quick-Step after Patrick Lefevere called for riders to ‘save team’s honour’
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Jonas Vingegaard triumphs on stage three of Itzulia Basque Country to return to winning ways
Low-speed incident takes Richard Carapaz and Sergio Higuita out of contention on vertiginous finish
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Jumbo-Visma set to use adjustable tyre pressure systems at Paris-Roubaix
The Dutch team and DSM will both utilise different systems on the cobblestones of the ‘Hell of the North’
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Five things we learned from the Tour of Flanders 2023: Kasper Asgreen could save Quick-Step's spring
Jumbo-Visma are fallible after all, and SD Worx's dominance continues with Roubaix in sight
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Tour of Flanders 2023: Five men and five women to watch on Sunday
Taking a closer look at the favourites ahead of this year's Ronde van Vlaanderen
By Tom Thewlis • Published