Welcome to stage 1 of the 2020 Tour de San Luis. We kick things off with a 4.1 km prologue. It's a great and probably only chance for the TTers to spend a day in leader's jersey. The good against the clock sprinters will look to do well, because we have a flat stage on day 2. If they don't manage it today, the bonus seconds tomorrow could see them take the leader's jersey. Of course the GC favourites also will want to minimise their losses here. We have a nice sunny day, no wind. Perfect conditions for the race.
Van den Berg is the first decent prologue rider at the finish. Let's see how his time holds.
5'15''
Sebright is one of the better riders against the clock here. His result will be a much better benchmark. And he sets the best time, 11'' faster.
5'04''
Watson is the first of the GC riders on the finish. 13'' behind Sebright.
5'17''
Reguigui came very close to taking the best time, but he's a second slower.
5'05''
The next rider to come agonizingly close in Sebright's teammate Downey. Also just a second short.
5'05''
A GC favourite Quevedo is on the finish and it's not a bad time. He'll be looking at Watson as a comparison and he's 5'' slower.
5'22''
Oram is someone targeting the TTs at this race, but at 3'' down, it's only enough for 5th at the moment.
5'07''
Carrefour's other GC card is Novak. He's the fastest of the GC men right now.
5'12''
The Danish TT NC Quaade is the 3rd rider now who has missed out by just a second. He slots in 4th.
5'05''
Defending champion Costa has started his defence well. A second faster than Novak and 7'' behind Sebright.
5'11''
Maccagli has a strong ride, but again a second off the mark and it's only 4th place.
5'05''
Can Cruz make it a 1-2-3 for Glanbia? It's a no. 4'' down is enough for only 9th.
5'08''
One of today's favourites Li comes in. He has the same time, but is placed in 2nd for now.
5'04''
Hamza is across the line, but he's 2'' slower which is only 8th place now. It's really tight at the top.
5'06''
We have another GC rider now Hoelgaard. Not a good effort by him. He is 15'' behind Rui Costa.
5'26''
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It took a while, but we have a new best time! Gretsch is 2'' faster than Sebright!
5'02''
Does Dumoulin have an answer. No, he's 2'' slower which puts him in 3rd place.
5'04''
Edmondson is one of the overall contenders and he puts in a decent time. 8'' slower than Costa who is still top among the GC men.
5'19''
Jiang came to Argentina just for this stage, but it doesn't pay off for him. A good 7'' behind the best time.
5'09''
Another time-trial specialist is Sterbini. This is good, but he's a second behind Gretsch and sits in 2nd place.
5'03''
Glanbia also have a GC favourite looking to profit from the TTs. Craddock is 8'' behind the leader which puts him top of the GC men.
5'10''
We have a fast finisher coming to the line here, it's Ghyselinck. He equals the time of Gretsch, but not quite, 2nd place.
5'02''
Meyer is approaching the finish, he's one of the better puncheurs against the clock, but not today. He's lost 17'' to Craddock.
5'27''
Eiking is next and he does a lot better than Meyer. 8'' behind Craddock.
5'18''
Sprinter and prologue specialist Keough won't be happy with 13th place. But with 4'' down it puts him in position to challenge tomorrow.
5'06''
Juul-Jensen has a nice effort. He matches the time of Eiking which puts in him a solid GC place.
5'18''
Scully is another rider who will try to take the lead tomorrow in the sprint and with only 3'' behind he is in prime position.
5'05''
Top dog Kelderman is at the finish and this is a very good result. A 12'' deficit puts him behind just Craddock, Costa and Novak by a minimum margin.
5'14''
Last man to finish and we see a surprisingly great time from Wippert. 7'' behind the lead puts him in the mix for tomorrow as arguably the top sprinter at the race.
5'09''
So Patrick Gretsch delivers the victory for Project: Africa. He leads the GC and points classification which jersey will be worn by Ghyselinck. Maccagli wears the young riders jersey.
In terms of GC the pre race favourites look like this:
26
Craddock
+ 9
28
Costa
+ 10
33
Novak
+ 11
40
Kelderman
+ 13
49
Watson
+ 16
56
Eiking
+ 17
57
Juul-Jensen
+ 17
65
Edmondson
+ 18
80
Quevedo
+ 21
102
Hoelgaard
+ 25
104
Meyer
+ 26
The differences between the riders are small so nothing is decided, but Hoelgaard and Meyer are probably the two who underperformed today.
Tour de San Luis - Stage 1 
