Vuelta a Espana 2016: Stage 1 Results, Overall Standings and Highlights

Team Sky and Movistar finished in the same time during the opening stage of the 2016 Vuelta a Espana on Saturday, a team time trial from Balneario Laias to Castrelo de Mino. Sky eventually sealed the win.

The result means Chris Froome and Nairo Quintana, two of the favourites for the overall classification, will start Stage 2 virtually on level terms, while Tinkoff Saxo's Alberto Contador lost 48 seconds on the duo. Pete Kennaugh led Sky across the finish line and will be the first wearer of the red jersey. 

Here's a look at Saturday's results:

Pos	Team	Time
1	Team Sky	30:37
2	Movistar	Same Time
3	Orica-BikeExchange	+1
4	BMC Racing	+6
5	Etixx-Quick-Step	+7

Recap

Global Cycling Network took a look at the profile for the opening stage and noticed it was remarkably fast for a team time trial:

The Vuelta is making team time trials to start the race a bit of a tradition, and while this year's course was a lot more conservative than last year's debacle, via Cycling News, the fast track suggested time differences wouldn't be major.

The riders seemed quite relaxed about the stage―Joe Dombrowski of Cannondale couldn't help himself:

Bora-Argon got the stage underway, but all eyes were on Team Sky, who will try to win this year's Vuelta for Tour de France winner Froome, and Movistar, as Quintana has to make up for his disappointing showing in France.

Miguel Angel Lopez slipped his chain inside the opening kilometre; it was a dreadful start for the Astana man who will lead the outfit in the absence of Vincenzo Nibali and Fabio Aru.

As shared by Etixx-Quick-Step, the entire team came to a halt:

Astana didn't lose too much time on Bora-Argon, the early leaders, but the top teams still had to start their ride. Etixx-Quick-Step was the first team to better Bora-Argon's mark of 31:32 minutes, going 35 seconds quicker.

Meanwhile, cycling writer Michael Hutchinson marvelled at the ridiculously busy summer the peloton has faced so far:

In the background, Esteban Chaves and his Orica-BikeExchange team-mates made a fine start to the time trial, and they would eventually better Quick-Step's time. BMC Racing came within a second of the Australian team—a solid showing from Tejay van Garderen and his team-mates.

Sky had the third-best time at the second time check, behind BMC and Orica but ahead of Astana, but Movistar stole the show in the final sector, making up 14 seconds to take the lead. Sky clocked the same time, while Tinkoff lost 48 seconds, marking a dreadful start for pre-race favourite Contador.

CESAR MANSO/Getty Images

Sunday's stage should result in a bunch sprint, but in typical Vuelta fashion, event organisers have added a couple of twists in the form of the Alto Montouto, which the peloton will face midway through the stage, and another unclassified climb just 10 kilometres from the finish line. 

It could open the door for a late attack and at the very least should be cause for confusion in the peloton ahead of a sprint.