Why does the vuelta start with a team time trial?

murphy's law
murphy's law Posts: 13
edited August 2012 in Pro race
Don't know if this is a dumb question but why does the vuelta start with a team time trial?
How will it be decided who is the overall leader?

Comments

  • afx237vi
    afx237vi Posts: 12,630
    Why not?

    Whoever crosses the line first from the winning team.
  • Vino'sGhost
    Vino'sGhost Posts: 4,129
    murphy's law wrote:
    Don't know if this is a dumb question but why does the vuelta start with a team time trial?
    How will it be decided who is the overall leader?
    No idea, more importantly how many calories in a can of Holstein pils 440 mls?
  • knedlicky
    knedlicky Posts: 3,097
    I don't like TTTs and I don't know the answer, but maybe the idea is to establish a team in front from the off - so the other teams now need to attack, whichever jersey they are interested in. A bit like a handicap.
  • Tom BB
    Tom BB Posts: 1,001
    As afx says...why not. Its not uncommon for GT's to start with a TTT. Giro last year did I think?
  • napoleond
    napoleond Posts: 5,992
    Because it's a 'spectacular' way to see all the teams in a short prologue without the risk of 'unfairly' affecting GC for those teams who've lost riders if held further into the race...
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  • jibberjim
    jibberjim Posts: 2,810
    Yes - just an alterative spectacle to a single rider prologue which can be a bit repetitive and boring. And as NapD says you have to have a TTT very early the race, and a prologue and a TTT can make the first few days pretty dull.
    Jibbering Sports Stuff: http://jibbering.com/sports/
  • hstiles
    hstiles Posts: 414
    It makes for a great late afternoon/early evening spectacle.
    It's a good way of assessing which riders are on form or not
    It's actually a 'proper' stage, as opposed to a prologue.
  • liquor box
    liquor box Posts: 184
    It adds to the skills that a team need to deliver to the starting line of a Grand Tour.

    I like the TTT, it allows for a team to really train to win a stage as a group and not just rely on an individual performance.

    I really love the look of a team that is smashing along on their TT bikes, it looks fast, it is fast and it looks great. The only change I would make is to put at least one hill in the course, just enough that some teams will have to think about slowing for their 5th rider to keep up.

    and the winner will be-CORVOS_00019694-001.jpg

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