The start of the Vuelta a Andalucia-Ruta del Sol was not the one Team Colombia-Coldeportes was hoping fr on the eve of its debut in the Spanish race, happened today, February 18th, with two half stages, a 118 km road race from La Rabida to Hinojos, and a 8,8 km individual time trial around Coria del Rio.

The morning effort was unharmful on cards, but it severely affected many contenders’ ambitions when a massive crash happened in the front part of the bunch with 4 km to go, taking 40 riders to the ground and occupying the whole extent of the road and forcing everybody behind to put down their feet. Four Colombia-Coldeportes riders – Alex Cano, Miguel Angel Rubiano, Fabio Duarte and Rodolfo Torres – hit the ground, suffering scratches and blows, but fortunately no serious injuries. Pim Lightart (Lotto-Soudal) edgend the 27-man group at the front to the finishing line, while Edward Diaz was able to contain the gap to 42 seconds to the winner. His fellow teammates suffered a worse fate though, as Duarte finished 3.36 behind, while the rest of the team concluded with 4.25.

In the afternoon ITT, Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) took over the GC lead by finishing third behind Javier Moreno(Movistar), who clocked a best time of 9.51, and Wilco Kelderman (LottoNL-Jumbo). Carlos Julian Quintero, who finished with a 42 second gap, was the best Colombia-Coldeportes rider in the effort against the time. Edward Diaz, 42nd at 1.35, is the best Escarabajo in the GC at the end of an unlucky day.

“It clearly was not the day that we expected, and wanted," Sports Director Oscar Pellicioli stated. "But things like this happen in cycling. The team was compact into the top 50 positions of the peloton, and they were so close to the crash that they could not dodge it. This episode obviously affects our GC ambitions, but we still have a lot to say in this race. We will be as aggressive as we can, trying to go for a stage win.”

Pellicioli also reassured about the crashed riders : “Of the four riders involved, only Alex Cano is suffering from back pain after the tumble, and could not give his 100% in the time trial. We are hopeful he will be back in strenght in time for the big mountain stages."

Tomorrow, the Vuelta a Andalucia will follow with the second stage, Utrera-Lucena of 194 km. On the same day, February 19th, the team will also be in the action in Italy for a classic early-season Italian one-day race, Trofeo Laigueglia.