We open the second longest Continental Tour race with a short fairly flat 5.3km prologue. With the only other Time Trial in this race involving a significant climb this is really the only chance for decent TTers such as Aramendia(LEGO) and Vandborg(Unicredit) to show themselves in their favourite discipline.
However they may have trouble beating Benfica’s big GC favourite Jurgen Van Den Broeck who will be keenly aware that he would like to put some time into race rival Koldo Gil (Lego) here.
There are plenty of other riders who can handle themselves pretty well against the clock and Unicredits Sergio Ortega was an early starter here.
Ortega sets the first sub 8 minute time – 7.55
Soon after though his time was better by LEGO’s Aramendia who justified his stage favourites tag with an excellent time.
Javiar that – LEGO man builds a time of 7.51
Hid teammate Koldo Gil, though finished the other side of eight minutes with a fairly average 8.08. He would be watching the clock closely as Van den Broeck was out straining to put some early time into his rival. Indeed he does that – in fact he even betters Aramendia’s time.
Jurgenna believe that this man is going for this – 7.50
A brilliant best for the Benfica man who is fully justifying his price tag with this ride, meanwhile another Time Trial specialist Vandborg looked like he was going close.
Unicredit man cannot quite bank the lead – 7.53
So very close between the three stage favourites and the conditions seemed to slightly worsen, which was tough luck for Quiksilvers useful all rounder Yasmini Martinez.
Martinez not quick enough – 8.00
Another GC favourite Vitor Rodrigues had a bit of a tough time setting 8.09, but then suddenly things calmed and possibly we had the best conditions of the day. However it still was quite a surprise when VdB’s Benfica teammate Mikhail Krasnoperov set a new fastest time and what a time it was.
Russian rival? Krasnoperov sets 7.45
It is a good time to be on the course here and Pirelli’s Ryder Hesjedal a good outside GC bet goes under eight minutes.
Hesjedal rydes out good conditions – 7.55
Also setting a very competitive time is one of the best Columbian riders Edwin Parra Bustamunte of the Red Bull Cycling team.
Great time from Parra Busta – 7.51
He was one of the last finishers and so completed the prologue here in Columbia. A slightly surprising podium really with Sport Lisboa undoubtedly happy with proceedings with a very good one-two. Gil and Rodrigues predictably lost a little time on better TTing rivals – but hey plenty of nasty stages ahead to rectify that!
