The China Mail - Jumbo-Visma win Vuelta a Espana opener in Utrecht

Dutch outfit Jumbo took 24min 40sec riding over 56kmh with veteran Robert Gesink crossing the line first and taking the overall leader's red jersey on the 21-day race.

The 184 riders from 23 teams set off from atop a broad time-trial ramp eight abreast and the finishing times were taken from a team's fifth man across the line.

Huge crowds packed the roadsides along the entire route on this first of three days in the Netherlands before the Vuelta transfers to the Basque Country on Monday.

"I'm really grateful to the boys," said the 36-year-old Gesink. "Being in the red jersey is the highlight of my career."

"Usually my job is to help the boys so this is a beautiful way for them to say thank you for all that."

Slovenia's three-time defending Vuelta champion and race favourite Roglic crossed the line in second.

His main rival is expected to be Remco Evenepoel and the 22-year-old Belgian zipped over the line ahead of his Quick-Step team

"We could hardly keep up with him," his teammate and world champion Julian Alaphilippe said.

"We'll give it all for him and we have no regrets here today."

Quick-Step were third on Friday by less than a second behind Ineos who are led on this Vuelta by Ecuador's Richard Carapaz, who announced earlier in the day that he would join American team EF next season.

"This was good work done and it motivates us for the rest of the race," Carapaz said.

G.Tsang--ThChM