Daniele Bennati (Tinkoff) became a surprise winner of the first stage of the Vuelta a Andalucia as he turned out to be the strongest in a very technical finale in Seville. The the Italian handled the many turns and roundabouts better than anybody else and managed to easily hold off Bert Van Lerberghe (Topsport Vlaanderen) and Juan Jose Lobato (Tinkoff) to take the win and the first leader’s jersey in the race.

Daniele Bennati bounces back from late puncture: It’s always good to get another win

On the opening stage of the 62nd edition of the Spanish race, Faniele Bennati powered ahead in the final sprint and claimed his first victory since joining Tinkoff in 2013. To round off the team's great day, Oscar Gatto grabbed fourth position. Tomorrow, Bennati will wear the red jersey of GC leader.

 

In preparation for the finish, the great work of the Tinkoff squad took Daniele Bennati in the front positions of the group, allowing him to start sprinting at 300 meters from the finish line and grab thus his first victory in 2016 and the first since joining Tinkoff in 2013.

 

 "For quite a while now, Bennati is going impressively well, therefore today we relied on him, and in the end the stage turned out to be as we had planned," stated Sport Director Bruno Cenghialta. "We are extremely happy that Daniele kind of unlocked himself. It was a wonderful sprint, we tried to get into the final kilometer in the right position and so it went well."

 

"The first part of the stage, on the other hand, was quite challenging, although it's quite usual for this type of undulating stages, with a breakaway which is pretty much controlled before you get to the sprint," concluded Cenghialta.

 

Daniele Bennati summed up his amazing win: “Today we set out with the goal to do the sprint with me. Obviously, quite often the races turn out to be different than what you expect, so the breakaway took everyone by surprise. It wasn’t our call to bring back the escapees, because there were other teams which were more interested in that. As we had two riders in the GC, I never expected our teammates would pull and chase the breakaway, and luckily other teams did that job."

 

"Going into the finale my teammates were awesome. Furthermore, with 10 km to go I even had a puncture in my front wheel and my situation got even more complicated. However, luckily, thanks to my good condition I was able to get back in. Then Trusov did an impressive job, taking me back to the front but it wasn't easy as it was a very fast-paced race, at about 60 km/h. McCarthy and Gatto were close to me in the finale and gave me a chance to sprint at the right time and win. Anyway, I’d really like to thank wholeheartedly all my teammates. This is the most important thing to me”, added Bennati.

 

“I got in behind the Movistar line and then the TopSport Vlaanderen line to the last kilometre. Then before the final roundabout I looked up and saw the finishing gantry in the distance so I made sure I was the first out of the roundabout and then went for it in the final sprint.

 

“I was aware that Lobato was right behind me and I was pretty worried about him, but finally I could make it to the line.

 

“I’ve had a good winter in Gran Canaria, I’m very motivated. Ok, so I’m 36 and my normal work is for Alberto and Peter, but I’ve won a lot of races in my career, and it’s always good to win some more.

 

“I know tomorrow’s final climb, we’ve been up it several times in the Vuelta a España, I think. I remember it was after we’d gone over that climb that [John] Degenkolb (Giant-Alpecin) won in the 2014 Vuelta (it was different climb, Ed.). So if it was hard to race in September, this’ll be even harder now. But my condition’s good, so we’ll see what happens. And we’ve got Kreuziger and Rafal who want to go for the overall here, so with the leader’s jersey, I think we’ll try to keep the race under control.

 

“If I can get over the climb, that’s great. If not, we’ve got Oscar Gatto and Jay McCarthy, who’s already won a stage in the Tour Down Under, and they’re both in excellent condition.”

 

"Tomorrow there's a climb at about 25 km from the finish where there is going to be a strong selection, because it's a pretty tough one. We expect to see a finale with a bunch group of 30 riders, maybe even 40. That will depend on the condition of the other teams", concluded Cenghialta.

 

The second stage that will start at Palomares del Río and finish in Córdoba.

 

Juan Jose Lobato after third place: I like these chaotic finishes

Juanjo Lobato came close to the second victory of his 2016 season in  the 165km opening stage of the Vuelta a Andalucía between Almonaster la Real (Huelva) and Sevilla. The Spaniard, supported by an excellent Movistar Team, including Alejandro Valverde’s sensational lead-out in the final kilometer, sneaked his way to the top through the turns of the Andalusian capital, yet lacked room to improve on an extremely short last straight where he was beaten by Bennati (TNK, 1st) and Van Lerberghe (TSV, 2nd).

 

The Trebujena-born rider will have two more chances to repeat his double success in 2015, be that tomorrow in Córdoba or Friday in Padul as both include climbs near the finish. For the rest - Erviti, Javi Moreno, Fernández, Dani Moreno and Sutherland - keeping Valverde safe will be the duty before an interesting weekend, with a TT in Alhaurín (Saturday) followed by a decisive double climb towards Peñas Blancas (Sunday).

 

“I’m happy to have taken this podium finish, yet it would have made me happier to win, so close to home, in the race of my region. At other finishes you need a more seasoned train to lead you out before the sprint, but I prefer finishes like this, where chaos reigns and I can profit from it to get a better position. Still, the team was incredible today, not to ask about Alejandro: they couldn’t drop me off in a better place. However, the roadbook read like the last turn was with 400m to go, and when I got off it, there was only 100 meters left… We really lacked that bit. I hope to bounce back tomorrow, and I’ll give my best for it,” Juan Jose Lobato said.

 

“Wind will be important tomorrow before Córdoba; should it blow, we will have to be extra cautious, but if it doesn’t, the stage should be easy until the climb. I hope that it gets harder on the ascent and I can make it with the best climbers, so I can stand a chance tomorrow or maybe on Friday. If there’s a smaller peloton and less stress, I should be better.

 

”Alejandro? Just like in every race, he’s extremely focused and as excited as a little kid. No matter if he’s not at 100% of his form, I feel he will be on the podium. All team-mates will help him, myself included, to make it happen.”

 

Raymond Kreder disappointed after hectic sprint in Andalusia

Raymond Kreder again showed good form by sprinting to 8th for Roompot.

 

Not happy about my sprint today. Wrong position in the final. Tomorrow a new day! Great ride on the front @TolhoekAntwan @ReinierHonig,” he tweeted after the stage.

 

Tosh van der Sande: That was a strange finish

Tosh van der Sande got a rare chance to sprint for Lotto Soudal and ended the stage in 9th.

 

“First stage done ! Strange finish with a roundabout with 100m to go? But again good feeling!! Next 2 days some harder finals,” he tweeted after the stage.

 

Ben Swift comes up short in chaotic Andalucia sprint.

Ben Swift sprinted to 11th place as the opening stage of the Ruta del Sol came down to a bunch kick in Sevilla.

 

The Brit was forced to start his sprint from deep in the pack and was unable to find a clear path during a fast finish. Daniele Bennati (Tinkoff) edged out an opening day victory in Spain to move into an early race lead.

 

After Swift, Wout Poels was the next Team Sky rider home, the Valencia winner finishing safely in the pack along with the rest of his team-mates ahead of more selective stages to come.

 

Philippe Gilbert: I tried to do the sprint but it was a bit crazy

The first stage of Ruta del Sol came down to a sprint finish, with Daniele Bennati (Tinkoff) crossing the line to take the stage and the leader’s jersey.

 

A four rider breakaway was caught in the last five kilometers of the stage, having stayed away for most of the race.

 

Philippe Gilbert was BMC Racing Team's best-placed rider, crossing the line in 12th place.

 

“It was an easy stage as the break was up there and had a good gap but the bunch was organized and we came back very late. The sprint was a bit crazy with a lot of corners. I tried to get in front but I was a bit too far behind,” Gilbert said.

 

Stage 2 tomorrow is 186.3km from Palomares del Río to Córdoba, including a decent climb in the last 30 kilometers.

 

Enrique Sanz frustrated by wrong roadbook in Andalusia

It was a bitter end for Team Southeast – Venezuela in the 1st stage of Vuelta a Andalucia won by Daniele Bennati. After leading the peloton in the last part of the stage, the team weren’t able to set up a train for the sprinters in the last km and so the best result at the finish line was the 15th place of Enrique Sanz.

 

”First stage has been completed, a little lost in the last km without knowing about the last km and those 400m to the finish (it was just 100m),” he tweeted regarding the final roundabout which should have come 400m from the line.

 

Kristian Sbaragli stays safe in dangerous Andalusian sprint

Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka were looking to Kristian Sbaragli for the sprint finish, trying to position the Italian near the business end of the peloton. The narrow finish meant if you weren't in prime position, then you weren't anywhere really. Sbaragli would opt for keeping safe and out of trouble by rolling home in 16th, with more opportunities to come later in the week.

 

“The most difficult part of today's 162km was the first 75km. A break of 4 got away and they almost touched an 8-minute gap. 3 teams had to chase and the break still made it to the last 2km. We tried in the final for Kristian but it wasn't our best day. Tomorrow will be an interesting stage with a few short difficult climbs before the finish,” Alex Sans Vega, sports director of Dimension Data, said.

 

LottoNL-Jumbo worried by the Alejandro Valverdes of this world

Team LottoNL-Jumbo made it through the first stage in the Ruta del Sol without any problems. Italian Daniele Bennati (Tinkoff) won the bunch sprint and took the lead in the general classification.

 

Wilco Kelderman and Steven Kruijswijk finished their first race without any problems. The average speed was high, perfect for rolling into their new season.

 

"Our men finished the first day of racing well," said Sport Director Addy Engels. "For Kelderman and Kruijswijk, it was the first race of the season. They had no problems to switch from training to racing. The start was a bit tough because many riders fought to get away. On the long flat road afterwards, little happened and we rolled to the finish."

 

Tomorrow follows a 186.2-kilometre route with a treacherous final in Cordoba.

 

"The stage starts on flat roads, but just before Cordoba we turn upwards," continued Engels. "That's a nice test for our classification riders. Enrico Battaglin could survive also but if the Alejandro Valverdes of this world are going full throttle then you do not know the outcome. I think there could be a sprint in Cordoba, but that depends on what happens on that climb."

 

Failed lead-out for Giant-Alpecin in hectic sprint in Andalusia

Roy Curvers was left with only a 24th place to show for his efforts on the 1st stage of the Ruta del Sol in Andalucia.

 

Georg Preidler was the first for Team Giant-Alpecin to cross the line in 22nd place, followed by Roy Curvers in 24th and Fredrik Ludvigsson in 25th place, respectively.

 

Coach Arthur van Dongen said: “Today we didn’t manage to make the break of the day so we concentrated our efforts on the bunch sprint with the aim to sprint with Roy.

 

“In the last km, Georg, Simon [Geschke] and Tobias [Ludvigsson] try to put Roy in the best position for the sprint but it didn’t go to plan and Roy got boxed in and he was unable to have a good lead-out”

 

“It was a tough day for our riders, but the team remain positive and tomorrow is a new day”.

 

Young Pole close to success on second day of pro racing

In his second race in the orange colors, Marcin Mrożek put in impressive performance in the opening stage of Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista Del Sol. He was a part of the day’s main breakaway, which was caught only 2 kilometers from the line. 

 

”We went full gas at the beginning. I waited until 10km mark until I made my first move. After a few attempts I was able to break clear,” Marcin Mrożek said afterwards. “We did a solid work in the break to create an advantage. When it reached the right level we took a foot off the gas to save some energy for the finale. With 25 kilometers to go we slowed down a little bit and 13 kilometers later we pushed the pace again. In the end I was hoping we could go all the way, but when Tinkoff started to pull, we realized that our chances were slim. I feel that I’m in good shape right now and with every day it should get better. It was my second race in CCC Sprandi Polkowice colors and the atmosphere in the team is great.”

 

Since the line-up of CCC Sprandi Polkowice for Ruta del Sol doesn’t include sprinters, the riders in orange arrived outside the top 20.