Vuelta a España 2022

Stage 1 – Utrecht > Utrecht TTT (23.3km)

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Not since the 2019 edition of the Vuelta a España has a Grand Tour included a team time trial which shows just how much this discipline has fallen out of favour. But we’ve got one here and it’s around the streets of Utrecht in the Netherlands who host the opening three stages before a Monday transfer to the Basque Country.

Unsurprisingly, the route is pan-flat and despite there being a lot of corners, the roads are described as ‘wide and without technical difficulties’ which is handy given these things can be particularly hazardous. There’s also some rain forecast which isn’t great news, so many will want this stage behind them unscathed – both in terms of major time losses and any unplanned trips to the treatment room.

Stage 1 Contenders

Given the rarity of these stages and the limited opportunities teams have to practice the discipline, there’s not much to go on regarding form. So we’ve essentially got to look at those teams who have the strongest time trial specialists on their startlists and those that have delivered good TT results throughout the season, indicating a significant investment in new bike and skinsuit technology. More often than not, that means the teams with the bigger budgets are likely to come out on top.

In pre-race favourite Primož Roglič, Italian powerhouse Edoardo Affini and two-time time trial world champion Rohan Dennis, Jumbo-Visma have three of the strongest riders against the clock in the business. They were big fancies to win the team time trial in 2019 before crashing out on a wet patch going round a corner, apparently caused by a leakage from a kid’s paddling pool.

The Dutch team are favourites at just bigger than evens and will be looking to get Roglič off to a solid start in his bid for an unprecedented fourth Vuelta title in a row. Roglič himself is likely to be a little undercooked given we haven’t seen him since being forced to abandon the Tour de France a month ago due to injuries. That’s not the end of the world in a three-week race – peaking in the second half is key.

Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl are another team with a couple of top tier TTers – former French champion Rémi Cavagna and GC pretender and all round boy wonder Remco Evenepoel who, despite never having completed a Grand Tour, is second favourite behind Roglič in the overall. The Belgian team have been trimmed for stage 1 over the last 24 hours and are now a best price of 11/8.

Ineos Grenadiers come into this Vuelta looking very strong with four potential GC contenders – former Giro d’Italia winners, Richard Carapaz and Tao Geoghegan Hart, recent winner of the Vuelta a Burgos, Pavel Sivakov, and the hugely impressive new Spanish champion Carlos Rodríguez. Ethan Hayter apart, the team doesn’t have any outstanding time trial specialists, but they’re all more than capable on a TT bike and with the very best in new tech could go very close to taking the first red jersey. There’s 9/2 about Ineos.

With Simon Yates and Matteo Sobrero, Team BikeExchange-Jayco won both individual time trials at the Giro d’Italia earlier this year showing their winter R&D has paid dividends. Alongside Yates they have some real time trialling talent on their roster with former Australian champions Luke Durbridge and Michael Hepburn as well as current US champion Lawson Craddock. They’re sure to go close and are priced at a tasty-looking 9/1.

Of the others, UAE Team Emirates have two former Portuguese time trial champions in Ivo Oliveira and GC contender João Almeida, as well as Brandon McNulty which should keep them in the mix, but a win looks a stretch.

It’s a day for small stakes – especially as the weather could add a random element – but the value lies with Ineos and BikeExchange. Let’s plump for Ineos who’ll be especially motivated to put local boy Dylan van Baarle into the leader’s jersey. Fingers crossed they all get round safely. Vamos!

Stage 1 Bets

1pt win Ineos Grenadiers @9/2

Posted 1950 BST Thu 18th Aug 2022

Prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change - find the best prices available on the Vuelta a España at Oddschecker