The US Postal team have won the 30.9-km team time trial first stage of the Tour of Catalunya.

The American team were trailing team ONCE by 49 seconds at the half way mark but clawed back the deficit to finish in 34 minutes 36 seconds, three secs ahead.

The Italian Mapei outfit clocked the third fastest time, and Germany's Team Coast finished the stage in fourth.

With US Postal leader and three-times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong sitting out this year's seven-stage race, the team is being led by Spain's Roberto Heras.

"It is nice for the team to start the race with a win," Heras told Spanish television after the race.

"I feel good, but it is still too early to say what sort of shape I am really in."

Belgium's Tom Boonen leads the individual standings by virtue of being the first US Postal rider to cross the line.

The individual race proper gets underway with a 182.9-km run between La Senia and Les Borges Blanques on Tuesday.

Leading results in the 30.9km team time trial first stage of the Tour of Catalunya

1. US Postal 34 mins 36 secs
2. ONCE 3 secs behind
3. Mapei 10 secs
4. Team Coast 21
5. Lampre-Daikin 25
6. iBanesto.com 34
7. Lotto 36
8. Itera 42
9. Fassa Bortolo 57
10. Jazztel 1:02

Overall standings:

1. Tom Boonen (Bel) US Postal 34 mins 36 secs
2. George Hincapie (US) US Postal
3. Michael Barry (Can) US Postal
4. Roberto Heras (Spa) US Postal
5. Chann McRae (US) US Postal
6. Christian Vandevelde (US) US Postal all same time
7. Mikel Pradera (Spa) ONCE 3 seconds behind
8. Mikel Zarrabeitia (Spa) ONCE
9. Jan Hruska (Cze) ONCE
10. Alvaro Gonzalez (Spa) ONCE all same time

Back to top