The 70th edition of the Vuelta will start today with a team time trial. There was a bit of discussion the past few days about the course, so the organisation decided that the real times won’t count. Actually, it’s only the stage win that matters. Lotto Soudal sports director Frederik Willems gives a small preview.

“The riders did a recon of the course on Thursday and indeed, it’s dangerous. The decision to eliminate the times causes less stress compared to a normal team time trial. But we’re going to do another recon of the course anyway.

"Sprinters like Kris Boeckmans, Jasper De Buyst and Tosh Van der Sande can handle this short distance and we want that they finish among the last five. But also our other guys can ride a good time trial. Once the riders are on the bike, they give full gas. Although risks will be avoided.

"It’s an advantage for us that a lot of teams will start before us. In that way we’ll have a better view of the course, the times, the difficult passages,… But actually, mentally, the Vuelta starts tomorrow.”