Pogacar wins Vuelta a Espana opening stage

Tadej Pogacar stormed to victory in the individual time trial to claim the leader's red jersey after the first stage of the Vuelta a Espana on Saturday.

The Slovenian, aiming to complete a career Grand Tour treble at the Vuelta, where he is the overwhelming favourite, completed the 9.4-kilometre ride a fraction of a second faster than Briton Ethan Hayter.

Joshua Tarling finished third, four seconds behind the top two, to complete the podium a week after his younger brother Finlay Tarling died in a road accident while racing in the Tour of Portugal.

UAE Team Emirates rider Pogacar clocked 10min 57sec for the short and technical course through the streets of Monaco, his home city, in the opening stage of the 81st edition of the Vuelta. He was 0.09sec faster than Soudal–Quick-Step's Hayter.

"It's a weird feeling to win the time trial on the first stage and by such a small margin," said Pogacar.

"I was not expecting it. I'm really happy. This red is a really nice colour."

He said home advantage was the key to his victory.

"That 0.09 happened when I passed my apartment because that was the most technical part, and I walk and cycle there every day," said the Slovenian.

Pogacar, who won the Tour de France for the fifth time earlier this summer and claimed the Giro d'Italia in 2024, is widely expected to finish in the red jersey too, in Granada on September 13.

He is competing in the Spanish Grand Tour for the first time since his only prior entry, 2019, when he finished third.

A Vuelta victory would make the Slovenian only the fourth rider to complete a historic Tour-Vuelta double in the same season, while only eight riders have won all three Grand Tours in their career.

Pogacar's compatriot Primoz Roglic is chasing a record-equalling fifth Vuelta victory but came in 24th.

Tarling had been among the leading contenders for the opening stage, on a route designed to favour specialists, and moved into the lead before Hayter and then Pogacar usurped him.

Hayter has never won a Grand Tour stage and came incredibly close to doing so before Pogacar stole in to take the glory.

Pogacar said he had been hoping Tarling could win the stage after his brother's tragic death.

"When I was going to the start line I saw that Josh had the best time. I was really wishing he would win today. I was going to give my best, but it was a strange moment, I was really rooting for Josh as well," said Pogacar.

"Then I came to the intermediate point and I hear a different name. I hear Ethan Hayter is in front of me by three seconds. So I said 'I will give it everything, but no risks -- I'll see what happens'."

The race continues Sunday with a marathon 214.3km stage from Monaco to Manosque in France.