GC Battle Starts Early At La Vuetla

Aggressive start for overall contenders with stage win for Quintana, red jersey for Roche

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The General Classification riders came out all guns blazing at the Vuelta’s opening weekend, with a stage win for Nairo Quintana and the leader’s red jersey on the shoulders of Irishman Nicolas Roche. Quintana, who is famously slow to hit his peak at each Tour de France, took stage two into Calpe.

The Movistar rider was part of a six-man move that went clear over the second-category climb of Alto de Puig Llorença on the run-in to the finish. Quintana hit out with three kilometres to go to the finish in Calpe, just north of Benidorm.