Jumbo-Visma wins the team time trial, Robert Gesink first leader of the Vuelta – L’Équipe

Jumbo-Visma was quick to display its ambitions. The Dutch team hit hard from the start by winning the first stage of the Vuelta 2022, a 23.3 kilometer team time trial run on Friday in Utrecht, the Netherlands. With a time of 24’40″29, Jumbo-Visma is ahead of the Ineos Grenadiers (24’53″80) of the Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz, and Quick-Step AlphaVinyl (24’54″55), of Julian Alaphilippe and the Belgian Remco Evenepoel Jumbo and his leader, the three-time defending champion Primoz Roglic, let the Dutchman Robert Gesink cross the finish line in the lead, allowing him to put on the red tunic of leader of the general classification. to thank the 36-year-old climber-roller, present since the creation of the team. Groupama-FDJ in the top 10 Long on the provisional podium with a time of 25’18”, Groupama-FDJ finally finished in sixth place of the day, just behind BixeExchange-Jayco (4th), UAE Team Emirates (5th), and 38” from the fastest of the day. AG2R-Citroën, thirteenth, managed to protect its announced leader, Ben O’Connor, and conceded 55” on the line, while Arkéa-Samsic, deprived of Nairo Quintana, took the eighteenth time (at 1 ’25”). Cofidis occupy the penultimate rank (at 1’50”), just ahead of the Spanish team Burgos BH. The formations of other contenders for the final victory also lost a few precious seconds. This is particularly the case for the Bora-Hansgrohe of Australian Jai Hindley, seventh behind Thibaut Pinot and his partners (41” from the leaders). The Movistar of Enric Mas, second in the Vuelta last year, limited the damage by taking the tenth time 43” from the lead. A second time trial, this time individual, is on the menu for the three weeks of competition. The tenth stage of the Vuelta (August 19-September 11), linking Elche and Alicante (30.9 kilometers), will take place the day after the second of the three days of rest offered to the riders.