Vuelta a España Ride Organizers Change Stage 1

Stage 1 Safety Concerns Force Change

The Vuelta a España Stage 1 Team Time Trial will not count toward the overall race standings due to the complaints from a number of pro cyclists who objected to portions of the Stage route. The Stage results will have a stage winner and count toward the team classification only. There will not be an official race leader for Stage 2, but the first rider from the winning team will wear the Red Jersey.
Stage 1 is a 7.4 kilometer (4.6 mi) route running along the Mediterranean between Puerto Banus and Marbella on the Costa del Sol. The route includes a temporary causeway built over beach sand, a wooden bridge and one portion of the route runs on a hard packed sand path.
Chris Froome and Team Sky tweeted pictures and their negative feelings about the route while practicing on the route yesterday. Other riders, teams, and the UCI expressed concern about the route. While the UCI sent a route inspector six weeks ago but could not see the entire route. A full inspection was not possible until three weeks ago.
The UCI and the race organizers, Unipublic, issued a statement on Friday, staying with the original route, but limiting the results to the Stage winner and Team competition only.