Distance: 16.5km
Highest point: 10m
Terrain: Flat
Category: Team time trial
This will be an evening of many firsts. The 65th Vuelta a España will be kicked off by a short team time trial and take place under lights on a course that incorporates many of Seville's most renowned sights.
Starting in the Plaza de Maestranza, next to Spain's oldest bullring, the pan-flat course is highly technical over the first 5km. After that, the 22 teams will be able to get up to full cruising speed as the course follows the Guadalquivir river to the finish next to the 12-sided Torre del Oro, which was built by the Moors in the 13th century. The first rider home in the fastest squad on the night will be presented with the new red leader's jersey.
Impeccable teamwork will be vital on such a short, technical stage, which seems to suggest that Team Sky will be among the favourites on their Vuelta debut. At the Giro, they narrowly lost out to Liquigas on a course twice as long as this one, and they should have an edge over the Italians in Seville, because their line-up is likely to be stronger. HTC-Columbia and Garmin won't be far away, though.
-
Ignore the naysayers, the Tour Down Under is proper racing and my favourite way to start the season – Opinion
Us Europeans are too quick to downplay the importance of the Australian summer, maybe we should appreciate it more -
Strohmeyer, Gunsalus head up 23-rider USA Cycling team for UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships
Only three elite riders but 20 up-and-coming racers for Hulst -
'I really need the endurance training' - Mathieu van der Poel skips Benidorm Cyclo-cross World Cup round opting for warm-weather road training camp instead
World Champion to return to cyclo-cross racing for final two World Cups -
Manchester, Cardiff and London to host Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes in 2027 as Grand Départ stages unveiled
Women's race will start in Leeds and the Peak District, whilst the men's depart will start in Edinburgh and journey south to the Welsh capital
