Astana Pro Team rider Simone Ponzi claimed the opening stage at the 2013 Vuelta a Burgos on Wednesday, profiting from teamwork and a well-timed technical sprint to take the first purple leader's jersey of the Spanish race.

Following the finale through Burgos on an uphill, cobblestoned village street in the historic centre, Ponzi was in no doubt as to whom he should show his gratitude.

“Without Vincenzo [Nibali] I wouldn't have won today, it's that simple. He did so much work in the last kilometres of the race to set a high pace and keep the speed up, and when it was time for me to sprint I had good legs and a lot of energy to pass the riders in front of me and attack for the win," Ponzi explained on the Astana website.

"When [the front] group went onto the final climb I was at the front with a few riders in front of me. I knew I passed them, but I didn't know how many. When you are focused like that at the end of a race all you see is light and shadow, not faces. I'm very glad I won, and a big thanks to Nibali," Ponzi said.