Etixx - Quick-Step opened the Czech Cycling Tour with a victory in the 20.4km TTT in Unicov on Thursday. The team finished with a time of 23'38", which was an average speed of 51.791 kilometers per hour.
Bora-Argon 18 finished 2nd, 10" down. CCC Sprandi Polkowice was 3rd, 22" down.
This is the 41st road victory for Etixx - Quick-Step in 2015. Rodrigo Contreras was part of the victory for Etixx - Quick-Step, making his debut with the team as a stagiaire. Fernando Gaviria is also participating as a stagiaire. There are two Czech riders participating, including former Czech Champion Zdenek Stybar and current Czech Champion Petr Vakoc.
Etixx - Quick-Step looks next to Stage 2 on Friday. Stage 2, 178km in total distance from Olomouc to Unicov, includes a completely flat profile from about the 135 kilometer mark until the finish line.
"It's always nice to start a race with a victory," Sport Director Davide Bramati said. "We wanted to do well because it's the first time we race here in Czech Republic, and we wanted to honor the race. This morning we decided together to let Zdenek Stybar pass first on the line. He is a Czech guy, and he deserves it, as well as Petr Vakoc, who we hope can do something good in the upcoming stages."
"I'm happy to wear the leader jersey for the first time in front of my public" Zdenek Stybar said. "I liked the parcours, and my home public gave us a boost of energy. From tomorrow until the end of Czech Cycling Tour it will be a different race, but we are motivated and ready to defend the leadership."