The race to promote Catalan as a tourist destination is one of the oldest in the world and the 2017 edition with Davide Cimolai of FDJ in the leader’s jersey had a 41.3km team time trial which started and finished in Banyoles as it’s second stage.
All twenty-five teams were involved with the Brasil team first out of the starting house ahead of the rest who departed at three minute intervals.
Brasil set the first time to beat of 54:14 but the likes of BMC were on the course and their time looks a fragile one and so it proved as Trek Segafedo finished in 50.10.
BMC, the world time trial champions, were favourites and did not disappoint with a time of 48.57 to take over the lead of the stage just before the last team to go down the ramp FDJ started off.
Team Sky with Chris Froome finished in 49.41.93 to go provisionally second before Movistar, who had been the fastest at the checkpoint, came home in 48.55 to take over the lead by two seconds with JJ Rojas in the leader’s jersey after FDJ came home 1.43 down on Movistar’s time.
Source: DSG
