The precarious and controversial Team Time Trial ran without incident in the opening stage of the 2015 Vuelta a España Saturday evening, and when the dust settled – literally with part of the course run on a dirt path – Trek Factory Racing finished in 6th place, completing the unconventional course in a time of eight minutes and 21 seconds.

The course’s safety concerns prompted the race jury to neutralize the time gaps and the opening stage did not count towards the individual general classification.

But with a Grand Tour stage win and the first leader’s jersey on the line, the race was on for many teams, and BMC Racing – always a strong horse in the team timed event – edged pre-race favorite Orica GreenEdge by one second to take the win in a time of 8 minutes and 10 seconds.

Tinkoff-Saxo was second, and Trek Factory Racing finished the precarious course 11 seconds off BMC’s pace, and only one second from fifth placed Etixx-Quick Step.

“I think everyone did his maximum. I think maybe we started a little bit too slow, but it’s always hard in a time trial this short to manage and balance everything perfectly,” said Cancellara of the short, intense time trial. “It was only seven kilometers, it’s over so fast, and you cannot tell too much from today. We were okay but did not make anything special today.”

“The legs are not where I want; normally in seven kilometers I can deliver better things, different things, but I knew that coming here. So I just tried to do what I could and manage things with what I have. I need every day now to get back on form, and we did what was necessary today and I think we managed well.”

The opening team time trial course, definitely one for the history books, ran smoothly despite the huge uproar on social media voicing valid concerns for riders’ safety. The decision to eliminate time gaps removed risks and certainly aided the safe arrival of all teams.

“The course had some risks, with sand in some corners, speed bumps and narrow passages - a little bit of everything,” explained team trainer and sport director Josu Larrazabal.  “We waited until the last moment this morning to check out the course, to see really how it was because we heard a lot of stuff from the media. We saw right away that it was impossible to pull with all nine guys. At the same time it was not for GC, so we decided that Haimar [Zubeldia], Riccardo [Zoidl] and  Fränk [Schleck] could stay in the back, and even get dropped if they felt it was too risky.

“I think overall they did a really good job. The gaps are small, we did start too slow and we recovered a few seconds in the second part so this means our speed was good there in comparison to the best teams. But in a parcours this short any mistake you make you pay at the end.  Of course, Fabian did a great job, like always, and it was nice to see him back to racing and be the leader for the TTT.”

The Vuelta kicks off with the first road stage tomorrow, and the real fight for time begins. Trek Factory Racing has brought a balanced team for the three-week Grand Tour and hopes to achieve a stage win and also a high GC.

Josu Larrazabal added, “The next weeks we have ambitions to win a stage. We have a real balanced team here, so there are chances for everyone. Jasper [Stuyven] is real competitive for the breakaway, and in the GC we hope to have Fränk in the top 10 and we feel that is a real possibility because he is fresh after his time away with injuries this season. A lot of other contenders are coming from the Tour [de France] so we hope to have maybe a little advantage there.”