SEVILLE, Spain (AP) — HTC-Columbia won the first stage of the Spanish Vuelta Saturday, a team time trial through Seville, handing Mark Cavendish the leader’s jersey.
The HTC-Columbia team completed the 8-mile nighttime stage in 14 minutes, 6 seconds.
Liquigas-Doimo finished 10 seconds off that pace and the Saxo Bank team of Andy and Frank Schleck was third, 12 seconds off the lead.
There is a heat wave sweeping Spain and it was about 86 degrees when the time trial began just after 10 p.m. local time.
Sunday’s second stage is a 107.9-mile run between Alcala de Guadaira and Marbella.
As the first rider across the line for HTC-Columbia, Cavendish will wear the leader’s red jersey, which had been gold in previous years.
