Third place in the end for the Emirati squad, with bigger tests to come over the next three successive mountain stages

UAE Team Emirates-XRG began the 2025 Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana with a strong third-place result in the opening team time trial (TTT) on stage 1.

Raced over 34.3km, the stage 1 team time trial was the longest TTT seen at this level of racing in almost seven years, challenging the riders with a flat parcours that would also be dictated by the wind conditions. Ostensibly beginning and ending in Orihuela, the route would take the riders south from the start town to a finish by the coast in Dehesa de Campoamor.

Coming across the line in a time of 40:10, UAE Team Emirates-XRG averaged 51.24kph over the 34.3km course, with all four of its climbers – Pavel Sivakov, Felix Großschartner, João Almeida and defending champion Brandon McNulty – well placed ahead of stage 2.

Joined by Ivo Oliveira, Julius Johansen and Filippo Baroncini on the start line, UAE Team Emirates-XRG knew that the time to beat had been set earlier in the afternoon by the eventual stage winners, Lidl-Trek. Unable to match the American team’s benchmark of 39:20, Jayco AlUla placed second and UAE Team Emirates-XRG kept Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe off the day’s podium.

However, all three teams and their respective GC favourites ended the day split by less than five seconds, with everything to play for in the battle for the overall win.

Tomorrow, the peloton will be met by a 166km-long test from La Nucía to Benifato, with three categorised climbs and a summit finish on the menu in the first of three stages in the mountains. It will be over these three days that the winner of this year’s edition will emerge, with stage 5 likely to finish in a bunch sprint on Sunday.

With his riders placing highly on stage 1, sports director Marco Marzano is full of optimism when looking back at the opening day and eyeing up the challenges to come on Thursday.

“In the end, we are happy because the team is already together as a unit and has produced a good performance on the road,” he reflected. “Tonight, we will analyse the team’s performance and make sure that we are ready to take on the first real challenge of the race tomorrow. Stage 2 looks to be an interesting test and it can be an opportunity to set the tone for the week.

“But for now, we are pleased that our guys had a good feeling in the legs and tomorrow will be a new day to chase a top result.

Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana Stage 1 (TTT) results

1. Lidl-Trek 39:20

2. Jayco AlUla +47″

3. UAE Team Emirates-XRG +50″

General classification after Stage 1

1. Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek) 39:20

2. Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) s.t

3. Daan Hoole (Lidl-Trek) s.t

10. João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +50″