La Vuelta Ciclista a Espana 2024 – Stage 1 Preview

Starting in Portugal on the outskirts of Lisboa and racing on the edge of the Gargalo do Tejo near the coast. I think this is the most simple time trial, I’ve ever had to preview.

Stage

Under 50m of elevation. It will not play a road at all.

One corner after a few hundred meters.

Weather

They are racing fairly late this evening. The first rider starts 17:23 and the last at 19:18. On paper, it should be better to start late as the temperature will be lower. The wind is fairly strong from the north all day, around 9 m/s – it means mostly a crosswind.

Contenders

Van Aert – he should start as one of the big favorites. 3rd at the Olympics, a lot of that has to do with Tarling having a puncture. I think he will finish in the top-3.

Almeida – I’d imagine he will finish around 5-10th place.

Vine – he has not raced much this season. When he has, there have often been a time trial involved in the races he participated in, and he has done well against the clock. A top-5.

McNulty – he is almost the equal of Vine. A top 5 or there about.

Tarling – a pan flat time trial. I think very few in the World can beat him on a course like today.

Küng – it is also a good course for the Swiss. He just hasn’t been as impressive against the clock as he once was. He won a time trial on a similar route back in 2023 in Tour de Suisse.

Roglic – a bit too flat for him to compete for the stage win but I have him up there just behind Wout van Aert and Tarling.

Tiberi – a top 10. He often goes well against the clock, also in flat time trials.

Who will win?

Joshua Tarling to take his first of many Grand Tour stage wins.