"That I can now take over the jersey feels so special" - Edoardo Affini becomes third leader of Vuelta a Espana

Jumbo-Visma have won the opening team time-trial and they have ever since worked to reward their domestiques, as Edoardo Affini rode into the red jersey today at the Vuelta a Espana.

“The most important thing was of course winning the team time trial. This is really fantastic. It is very special that we can share this moment with each other," Affini said in a post-race interview. After local riders Robert Gesink and Mike Teunissen got to enjoy the lead of the Vuelta for a day, Teunissen had said earlier in the day that he would be giving up the fight for the stage in order to allow another teammate to take up the lead of the race.

That man happened to be Edoardo Affini who rode in support of Primoz Roglic in the final kilometers, and then stayed close to the head of the peloton to finish in 20th place, but because of the same time between the Dutch team's riders, he has ridden into the lead of the race.

"First it was two Dutchmen in their own country in the red jersey, that was perhaps even more special for them. That I can now take over the jersey feels so special. I thank my teammates," Affini concluded. Although the hilly first day in Spain will be complicated for the Italian time-trialist, having the spotlight on him will be a big career achievement and a high value reward for the work he does for the team.