21 Aug 2011

Leopard-Trek lead the Tour of Spain

7:06 am on 21 August 2011

The Danish cyclist Jakob Fuglsang has taken the leader's red jersey on the first day of the Tour of Spain after leading his Leopard-Trek team to victory in the team time-trial.

The Luxembourg-based team powered over the 13.5km course in 16 minutes, 30 seconds, four seconds ahead of Italian outfit Liquigas.

The American team HTC were third, nine seconds behind the winners.

Tonight's second stage takes the riders 174km from La Nucia to Playas de Orihuela in southeastern Spain, a relatively flat course that should favour the sprinters.

This year's Tour is without big names such as Alberto Contador, Tour de France winner Cadel Evans and brothers Andy and Frank Schleck.

There are no New Zealanders on the Tour.