Vuelta a Espana 2023: Rainy Vuelta opener: Points victory for Evenepoel

In the pouring rain of Barcelona, last year's winner Remco Evenepoel landed a points victory at the start of the 78th Tour of Spain.

The Belgian time trial world champion rode his Belgian cycling team Soudal-Quick Step to fourth place in the team time trial in Barcelona on Saturday, 26 seconds ahead of the Jumbo-Visma team with Tour champion Jonas Vingegaard (Denmark) and Giro winner Primoz Roglic (Slovenia).

Bora-hansgrohe in ninth place

However, the eleventh-placed Jumbo team also had technical problems on the 14.8 kilometre course. The DSM team took the victory with a lead of five tenths of a second over the Movistar team. The German Bora-hansgrohe team with Lennard Kämna and Emanuel Buchmann finished in ninth place, 28 seconds behind.

However, with the rain pouring down and darkness falling, the conditions were borderline. "This is totally ridiculous and a disgrace. The organisers should know what can happen," scolded Evenepoel.

>> The results of the Tour of Spain 2023

The second stage also ends in Barcelona on Sunday. After the start in Mataró, however, the riders will already face a number of stages over the 182 kilometres. One second and two third category climbs are on the programme, including one up to Montjuic shortly before the finish.

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