Tinkoff-Saxo finished 7th, 19 seconds behind the winning team, on the opening team time trial in Jerez. Alberto Contador made ​​a positive assessment of his and the team’s performance in the first time trial of this year’s Vuelta a Espana.

“I think it’s a good result. The distance up to Movistar is only 19 seconds, but more than that, I'm happy because I could keep up with my teammates. I was able to participate in the work during the race and it’s a good sign that I had no pain in my knee. I was really looking forward to the start of the race and the time differences are not significant. From now, I'll go day by day and see what will happen”, Contador said after finishing the stage.

The 12,6 kilometer team time trial featured a technical parcours in the Andalusian city of Jerez. Alberto explained that many riders probably weren’t prepared to risk too much on the tricky sections.  

“It was a complicated time trial. If it had rained it would have been practically impossible. It was a time trial that demanded respect with slippery asphalt in the roundabouts after a period without rain, with petrol and diesel from the cars. So I'm happy we avoided any problems. I'm also satisfied because I saw the whole team working well, they were really concentrated, and that motivates me”, explains Alberto Contador and adds:

“We will see on stage 2, if there will be any wind. We have to be attentive and stay in the front so we don’t lose time, but above all to prevent crashes, which is what worries me the most during this first week in regard to my attempt to recover so I can do the final part of the Vuelta as I want”, concludes the leader of Tinkoff-Saxo.