Contador strikes first blow at the Vuelta Andalucia

Consistency on the first day of racing at the Vuelta Andalucia gave Alberto Contador the opening bragging rights in his first head-to-head contest with Chris Froome for 2015.

The first day of racing featured a split format with the first stage a 123.5 road race followed later by a 8.2km time trial.

Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) finished in the main bunch with Froome (Sky) in the road race and then 4th in the later time trial to take the overall lead in the race.

Froome remains within striking distance of Contador ahead of the 194.7 km 2nd stage from Utrera to Lucena.

(Alberto Contador in the time trial - AAP)

General classification

1 Alberto Contador (ESP) Tinkoff-Saxo 3hr 11min 43sec

2 Bob Jungels (LUX) Trek Factory Racing

3 Benat Intxausti (ESP) Movistar 0:00:01

4 Christopher Froome (GBR) Sky 0:00:08

5 Sylvain Chavanel (FRA) IAM

6 Peter Kennaugh (GBR) Team 0:00:12

7 Ivan Basso (ITA) Tinkoff-Saxo 0:00:17

8 Edward Theuns (BEL) Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise 0:00:18

9 John Degenkolb (GER) Giant-Alpecin 0:00:20

10 Michael Valgren Andersen (DEN) Tinkoff-Saxo