The four-day Tour de Slovénie opened in Ljubljana on Thursday with an individual time trial. Three Team Katusha riders posted times good enough to make the top ten with Vladimir Isaychev in the best position at 4th. Isaychev sits at 4-seconds behind winner Artem Ovechkin of RusVelo. Just behind him was Aleksandr Porsev for 5th and then Sven Erik Bystrøm in ninth. The course was an 8,8 km effort.

"I came out of the Dauphiné with good feelings so I was really motivated today. I was hoping for something good. I woke up with good legs this morning. The most important thing for me is that I finally have good feelings overall. Earlier this season I had all lot of health problems. Now I will go for it. I am happy," said Vladimir Isaychev.

Second and third places on the stage were Salvatore Puccio (Sky) on the same time as Ovechkin and Diego Ulissi (Lampre-Merida) at 2-seconds.

"I am happy with three guys in the top ten. I asked all of our riders to go full gas on the course today. There was no excuse to hide, and they all did very well. I’m also happy about Egor Silin who lost only 24-seconds. This is good for his GC aspirations," said team director Claudio Cozzi.

Stage 2 on Friday begins in Skofja Loka and ends in Kocevje at 182 km.