The Jumbo-Visma cycling team won the first stage of the Vuelta Femenina, the women’s Tour of Spain. It was a group time trial over 14 kilometers in the coastal city of Torrevieja. The Dutch team was only slightly faster than Germany’s Canyon-SRAM Racing. The difference was one second. Trek Segafredo was third. Movistar came out with World Champion Annemiek van Vleuten fourth.
Amber Krack, Ryan Marcus, Eva Van Agt, Marianne Vos, Briton Anna Henderson, American Corinne Labecki and Swiss Noemi Roeg got into the business for Jumbo-Visma. Because Henderson crossed the finish line first, she was allowed to wear the leader’s red jersey.
Henderson was delighted with the victory and the red jersey. “Especially because it’s the first victory for the team that we’re also achieving together,” said the 24-year-old Briton. “We figured out the track well, believed in each other and gave everything.”
In the standings, Krack, Voss and Marcus are at the same time as Henderson in places 2, 3 and 4. Former American world champion Chloe Degert, of Team Canyon-SRAM for which Dutchman Paulina Royakiers also plays, is fifth. place.
Van Vleuten is 15th at 12 seconds off the leader. Demi Fullering, the other favorite for the overall victory, comes twenty seconds down at 14 seconds. With SD Worx, she finished the team time trial in fifth place.
Tuesday comes after a flat ride from Orihuela to Pilar de la Horadada. The Vuelta ends on Sunday. Van Vleuten has won the last two editions.
