Madrid (AFP) - Astana struck the first blow on La Vuelta a Espana on Saturday, sprinting to victory in an opening team time trial played out over a spectacular background of salt lakes.
The Kazakh outfit clocked 14min 15.08secs for the 13.4km course which took in the famed salt flats of Torrevieja on Spain's south-east coast.
Deceuninck-Quick-Step were two seconds off the pace with Team Sunweb in third spot, five seconds behind.
It was a forgettable opening day, however, for time-trial favourites Jumbo-Visma who suffered a collective fall on a hot, windless day.
The 74th edition of La Vuelta finishes in Madrid on September 15.
