HTC has drawn first blood at the Vuelta a Espana. HTC powered over the flat, 13-km course to win Stage 1, a nighttime team time trial in Seville, in 14:06. Liquigas finished second at 0:10, and Saxo Bank took third at 0:12. Mark Cavendish (HTC) is the overall leader.

Footon was the first team to start. The Spanish squad posted a 15:03, only to see Ag2r better that time with a 14:41. Columbia was the third team out of the start house.

The teams that followed Columbia attempted to win or put the GC men in a good position. Liquigas, which has Roman Kreuzinger, finished second, while Saxo Bank, which has Frank and Andy Schleck, finished third. Cervelo, with two-time Vuelta runner-up Carlos Sastre, took fourth at 0:13. Garmin, with Christian Vande Velde, finished fifth at 0:17. Rabobank, which has never been a time trial squad, finished 18th at 0:36, which does not put two-time Vuelta champion Denis Menchov in the best position. Fortunately for the Dutch team, this team time trial was short.

Mark Cavendish leads the 2010 Vuelta a Espana. Photo copyright Fotoreporter Sirotti.

In the overall, Cavendish leads teammates Peter and Martin Veliks. Stage 2 will be a rolling, 173-km ride from Alcala de Guardaira to Marbella. With two Category 3 climbs, this stage could see a breakaway win the day, but with a long, downhill run to a flat finish, the sprinters are just as likely to take the day's honors. Which will it be? Check in at www.roadcycling.com and find out!

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