Thursday, March 28, 2024

La Vuelta a España 2014 – Stage 1; Jerez de la Frontera (TTT), 12.6 km. The ‘Telephone Team’ Take It

-

HomeRaceRace ReviewsLa Vuelta a España 2014 - Stage 1; Jerez de la Frontera...

vuelta_espana_logo_2014

Movistar win Stage One in Jerez de la Frontera – no surprises, then.

Perhaps we could have expected more from reigning World TTT Champions, QuickStep but with Tony Martin just back after a break and a technical parcours where it would have been easy to pile up, the Belgian team took no chances and finished fifth.

Cannondale took second – it’s a long time since they won the opening TTT in the 2007 Giro – as Liquigas back then – but the combination of strong rouleurs like Bodnar and spectacular bike handlers like Sagan and Gatto gelled well.

Jerez de la Frontera
Movistar celebrate victory. Photo©Unipublic
Jerez de la Frontera
Cannondale in neat formation, took second. Photo©Unipublic

Adam Yates again displayed his class as GreenEDGE took third despite their chrono royalty not being present.

Trek was unlucky, finishing the day in fourth but after a warm-up crash where the whole team tasted tar.

Jerez de la Frontera
OPQS fifth today. Photo©Unipublic

It wasn’t a good day for Sky and Chris Frooome, 27 seconds down in the middle reaches of the classement for 11th and holding off Pro Continental team MTN-Qhubeka by a mere two seconds.

Jerez de la Frontera
Mesh skinsuits the gear of choice for MTN. Photo©Unipublic
MTN
MTN rode superbly. Photo©Unipublic

Similarly, Aru’s campaign with Astana and Rodriguez’s with Katusha got off to uninspired starts whilst ‘miserable’ is probably the best word to describe Garmin’s 41 second deficit in 18th spot.

But the day belonged to the ‘Telephone Squad’ hugely motivated in ‘their’ race and starting with only one though in mind – to win.

Jerez de la Frontera
Movistar fill the top of the GC. Photo©Unipublic

Their press release summed it up thus:

“Just like in 2012, at home in the streets of Pamplona, the Movistar Team touched their dream at the start of the Vuelta a España and set one of their great domestiques, Basque specialist Jonathan Castroviejo, as the first leader of the 2014 race.

“The telephone squad rode brilliantly, in perfect order and picked up their own pace through the 12.6km TTT in Jerez de la Frontera, a mix of urban, technical, dangerous sections and long straights, where the squad directed by Eusebio Unzué kept always all nine men together.

“Until the very final straight, following a good intermediate check – second, just 5″ behind Cannondale Pro Cycling, Castroviejo, Valverde, Amador, Erviti, Moreno, Quintana, Izagirre, Malori and Herrada – the latter two dropping just few meters before the end after fantastic efforts – rode like one rider to take the blue and green of Movistar to their third victory in team time trials since 2011, by six seconds over the finish line, plus the 31st success of the 2014 season – just one short of their 2013 tally – by the Spanish squad in an already unforgettable season.”

Movistar
The Telephone Team on the Top Step. Photo©Unipublic.
Ed Hood
Ed Hood
Ed's been involved in cycling for over 50 years. In that time he's been a successful time triallist, a team manager and a sponsor of several teams and clubs. He's also a respected and successful coach and during the winter months was often working in the cabins at the Six Days for some of the world's top riders. Ed remains a massive fan of the sport and couples his extensive contacts with an inexhaustible enthusiasm for the minutiae and the history of our sport. In February 2023 however, our dear friend and beloved colleague Ed suffered a devastating stroke and faces an uncertain future; Ed has lost his ability to speak, to read, and has lost movement on the right side of his body. He's working with speech and physical therapists on rehabilitation, but all strokes are different and each patient responds differently, so unfortunately recovery is one day at a time. Ed ran his own business installing windows, and will probably not be able to work again. Please consider joining us to make a contribution to Ed's GoFundMe page to help stabilise and secure his future.

Related Articles

Rick Zabel Victorious in Bedale; 2019 Tour de Yorkshire – Stage 2

Bedale was packed to the rafters to see Rick Zabel claim a stunning sprint victory on a hugely successful second day at the Tour de Yorkshire. By the time they reached Market Place it was Rick Zabel who hit top speed and romped to victory in front of some unbelievable Yorkshire support. The win was his first since 2015 and one which will live long in the memory.

Tour de Yorkshire 2018 – Stage 4 Wrap Up; Greg Van Avermaet takes the Stage and GC

Greg van Avermaet dedicated his stunning Tour de Yorkshire success to the memory of BMC Racing Team owner Andy Rihs after a superb final stage saw him crowned champion in Leeds. Rihs passed away at the age of 75 last month, with BMC still in mourning after losing a friend and passionate cycling fan as well as owner.

Le Tour de France 2009 – Stage 12: Tonnerre > Vittel, 211.5km

Tour de France! Ca va? What does the '0' stand for in 02:30 ? "Oh my God, it's early!" Four hours sleep, as Barry White would say; "it's just not enough!" It's 14:19 and we're on the motorway, near Metz; we just got lost - no excuses, but the signage is grim. Destination Vittel.

Scottish Road Race Championship 2013 – Gary Hand at Last!

On a gloriously sunny Sunday afternoon in North East Scotland, Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes' Gary Hand finally took the Scottish Road Race Championship after a blistering attack on the main climb of the day took him clear of 2012 champion, James McCallum (Rapha Condor JLT) and Davie Lines (MG-Maxifuel Pro Cycling) over the top of the hill.

At Random

Le Tour de France 2009 – Stage 6: Gérone > Barcelona, 181.5km

Less than one week into its debut Tour, the Cervélo Team scored a sprint victory today with Thor Hushovd in the 181.5km sixth stage to Barcelona. Hushovd battled through rain and slick roads that saw team captain Carlos Sastre fall without major consequences.

Copenhagen Six Day 2010 – Day Three

Maybe it was all those minds thinking; 'I hate split sessions' that made the access panel in the track jam? In fact, it was an electrical fault, caused by someone who didn't understand the procedure for shutting the big sliding panel in the track's back straight that meant the Saturday afternoon session was cancelled.

The Killer Danilo Di Luca Takes Liege

Danilo Di Luca rewarded his hard-working teammates in the best way yesterday (Sunday) by racing a tactically perfect Liege-Bastogne-Liege and taking the win in front a first-class field. "I've been dreaming of winning this race for nine years. This is the most beautiful and most difficult race that I have won" exclaimed Di Luca post-race.

Mark Stewart – Targeting Winning Races with Kiwi Team Black Spoke Racing

When we saw Mark Stewart’s recent post on social media that he’d moved on from the Ribble Weldtite team – who he’s been with for three seasons - and joined his ‘local’ New Zealand continental team Black Spoke Racing, it reminded us that it had been a while since last we spoke to the Scotland’s reigning Commonwealth Games Points Race Champion who’s been based on the other side of the world these last two years.