BMC Racing win team time trial in Vuelta a Espana

BMC Racing celebrate victory in the team time trial at the Vuelta a Espana

Chris Froome avoided taking any risks for Team Sky in the opening stage at the Vuelta a Espana as BMC Racing won their second consecutive Grand Tour team time trial in Marbella.

The Tour de France champion knew the result would not affect his standing in the general classification and his team finished over a minute down on BMC Racing, who pipped Orica-GreenEdge and Tinkoff-Saxo by less than a second.

With several changes of surface including a sandy section near the start, organisers announced on Friday the times no longer contributing to the individual classification.

LottoNL-Jumbo set the early pace with what looked to be a strong time of eight minutes and 18 seconds but time-trial specialists Orica-GreenEdge soon smashed that mark by eight seconds.

Tinkoff-Saxo then edged Orica off the top spot by less than a second but their time in the leader's enclosure was short as world champions BMC took over by a tenth of a second.

Slovakian Peter Velits crossed the line first and will wear the leader's red jersey in the tough stage to Carminito del Rey on Sunday.

Team Sky's caution was mirrored by Cannondale-Garmin (9:30) and Europcar (10:25) who were even slower on a course which had been questioned by Froome and other riders.

Team Sky took no risks during the neutralised opening stage

Froome's team-mate Geraint Thomas admitted his frustration at the way events had played out but insists Team Sky will improve on Sunday.

"It's a big disappointment really to have a neutralised stage like that because we were all looking forward to riding a good TTT, going full gas, and having a good race," he told Eurosport.

"When the organisers said there weren't going to be any times taken for the GC [general classification], we decided to take it easy and stay upright.

"I rode most of the race on my sidebars because it was so bumpy, and because there was a lot of gravel and sand on the corners.

"If everyone had have gone flat out, it might have been quite dangerous."

Vuelta a Espana stage one result

1. BMC Racing (US) 8mins 10secs

2.  Tinkoff-Saxo (Rus) +1sec

3.  Orica-GreenEdge (Aus) same time

4.  LottoNL-Jumbo (Ned) +8

5.  Etixx - Quick-Step (Bel) +10

6.  Trek Factory Racing (US) +11

7.  Lotto Soudal (Bel) +18

8.  Caja Rural (Spa) same time

9.  Movistar (Spa) +24

10. Cofidis (Fra) +27

11. IAM Cycling (Swi) same time

12. Lampre-Merida (Ita) same time

13. Astana (Kaz) +30  

14. Team MTN (SA) same time

15. Colombia (Col) +33

16. FDJ.fr (Fra) +44

17. Katusha (Rus) +54

18. AG2R-La Mondiale (Fra) +1:00

19. Giant-Alpecin (Ger) +1:07

20. Team Sky (GB) +1:11

21. Cannondale-Garmin (US) +1:20

22. Europcar (Fra) +2:15