An in-form Amets Txurruka again took a place of honour when he finished fourth in the first stage of Vuelta a Madrid. With David Arroyo taking 10th, Caja Rural had two riders in the top 10.

"In the end I felt good, but I struggled at first," Txurruka said. "We tried with Prades, but he was dropped because of cramps and we so we should have reacted earlier. Itwas too late to fight for victory."

"My feelings were not bad so in that way I am happy, but I have the impression that I could have done better even though that is easy to say now," Arroyo said. "It was a shame not to finish off the work the team did throughout the race, but winning is very complicated. We must continue this good momentum."