Vuelta 2017, Stage 1: Nîmes - Nîmes 13,7 km (TTT)

[SafeBet]

Vuelta a Espana 2017 starts with the usual TTT, this time on city roads. The route looks fairly technical for a team time trial with a few difficult bends in the first half. I wouldn't be surprised to see a couple of teams mess it up and lose big chunks of time.

Panflat profile. Don't be fooled by the stupid KOM.

Fernando Escartin commentary: The Nîmes time trial will be very technical: the teams will have to ride through the streets in the old part of the city, right through the heart of historical buildings. The key will lie in being completely in sync from the very beginning, maintaining a very high speed and making sure that each and every rider does his job well in each section of the stage.

Weather: http://www.meteofrance.com/previsions-meteo-france/nimes/30000
Should be sunny and hot throughout the day.

Starting times:

1 Manzana Postobon 17:30:00
2 Lotto-Soudal 17:34:00
3 Dimension Data 17:38:00
4 Cannondale-Drapac 17:42:00
5 Aqua Blue Sport 17:46:00
6 FDJ 17:50:00
7 Bora-Hansgrohe 17:54:00
8 Cofidis 17:58:00
9 UAE Team Emirates 18:02:00
10 Caja Rural 18:06:00
11 Team Sunweb 18:10:00
12 Katusha-Alpecin 18:14:00
13 Astana 18:18:00
14 QuickStep-Floors 18:22:00
15 Bahrain-Merida 18:26:00
16 LottoNL-Jumbo 18:30:00
17 BMC 18:34:00
18 AG2R La Mondiale 18:38:00
19 Orica-Scott 18:42:00
20 Movistar 18:46:00
21 Team Sky 18:50:00
22 Trek-Segafredo 18:54:00

 

[Lexman]

I suppose it will be between Sky and BMC for the victory of the stage, Trek, Astana & Bahrein trying to limit the loss...

 

[jsem94]

No major riders crashing out please.

 

[fauniera]

Re:

I suppose it will be between Sky and BMC for the victory of the stage, Trek, Astana & Bahrein trying to limit the loss...

Plus Quick Step.

 

[Red Rick]

I'm just hoping the gaps are as small as possible

 

[Laplaz]

Can't see past BMC for this one. Hopefully SKY will not gain too much time.
Sky -25sec. to Trek & Astana and 35sec. to Bahrain

 

[Durden93]

Yawn.

 

[HelloDolly]

Beautiful scenery for this TTT

Think Quickstep are the ones to beat ....

 

[Ricco']

It's the first time that we have a KOM in a TTT? I don't remember any other ocasion.

It's a bit meaningless but it's the Vuelta, nothing to be surprised. If there's a race where we can hope for a TTT up Angliru, it's this.

 

[Sylvester]

The ferocious "Alto de Nîmes"

 

[can3478]

Question: I see that Alberto's team goes last, but how are the rest of team TTT order be determined? Shouldn't Moviestar be 2nd last team since Quintana won last year?

 

[ice&fire]

Team order is set by the organiser according to its own subjective interests. Looking at the place of wildcard teams, stage win candidates and GC win candidates (including two former winners) it's clear that the order is not based on anything resembling sporting merit.
Movistar is the team of last year winner, they are the only Spanish WT team, they've won the WT Team rankings several seasons including last year... but they don't have a serious contender for GC. Unipublic is having a deference to Movistar placing them just before last year runner-up and current year big favourite and the retiring champion honored with bib number 1.

 

[DFA123]

Re:

Team order is set by the organiser according to its own subjective interests. Looking at the place of wildcard teams, stage win candidates and GC win candidates (including two former winners) it's clear that the order is not based on anything resembling sporting merit.
Movistar is the team of last year winner, they are the only Spanish WT team, they've won the WT Team rankings several seasons including last year... but they don't have a serious contender for GC. Unipublic is having a deference to Movistar placing them just before last year runner-up and current year big favourite and the retiring champion honored with bib number 1.

The order looks fine to me. All the main predicted GC contenders and the favourites for the stage win are all going in the second half.

Not that it really matters anyway, with just 90 minutes between first and last teams.

 

[Brullnux]

As it is so technical, the weaker teams shouldn't be as hard done by (as long as their TT bike handling is up to scratch).

 

[Vasilis]

I think Sunweb can do a really good TTT here too. And Orica are never far away either.

 

[Tank Engine]

1. BMC
2. Sky
3. Quick Step

Oss in the leader's jersey would be a nice note of respect (but he's leaving the team, yes?).

 

[Frankschleck]

quick step with the strongest squad for a team time trial, but it is very short, and bmc have the best rider for it in dennis. I think the length will play to bmcs favor.

 

[Kazistuta]

Maybe we're in for a Sunweb surprise?

 

[Vesica]

Re:

Maybe we're in for a Sunweb surprise?

Don't think so. They're at the Vuelta with a very unexperienced and young team.

 

[Jspear]

BMC is the safe pick imo, but I could see Sky doing well. Froome obviously will want to gain as much time as he can.

 

[Robert5091]

http://netstorage.lequipe.fr/ASO/cyclisme/la-vuelta/2017/reglements/V17-Rules-en-v3.pdf

Along The first stage, team time trial Nîmes-Nîmes, the points for the Nimes Climb (3rd categories), will be awarded according to the first tree riders of the fastest team in that climb

As clear as mud ... so, it's the first three riders over the "climb" of the team that finishes fastest. 115 Euros for the first man and 80 Euros for second, so let battle commence!

 

[Froome_Rorke's Drift]

Trek should be reasonably competitive here. Top 5 maybe

 

[sir fly]

Hoping for strong performance from Orica.
Despite their GC strength and tactical sense, continuing from far behind could require more spending than it would be acceptable.

 

[Red Rick]

Right.

The time is now

Alber- uh...

Trek-Segafredo will win this bike race

 

[Lequack]

60 Big Photos from Pre-Race and the Teams Presentation — flockton/aso:
http://www.steephill.tv/2017/vuelta-a-espana/photos/stage-00/

Let the show begin