American Brandon McNulty wins the individual time trial in record time on the first stage of the Spanish Vuelta | National

MADRID (AP) — American Brandon McNulty won the opening stage of the Spanish Vuelta in Portugal on Saturday with the fastest time trial in the history of the Spanish Grand Tour race.

The UAE Team Emirates rider finished the individual time trial with a time of 12 minutes and 35 seconds, two seconds faster than Czech rider Mathias Vacek. Wout van Art finished third, three seconds behind the winning time.

“I was hoping for something good today, but it's really hard for me to believe,” McNulty said. “I knew I could do something good, but I didn't expect to win. I just felt good and did my best. I gave it everything I had.”

McNulty finished fifth in the men's individual time trial at the Olympic Games in Paris.

The coastal wind played a crucial role as the riders tackled a 12-kilometer fast stretch near the mouth of the River Tajo from Lisbon to Oeiras.

“The wind was really strong, but we knew that, so I expected it,” said Vacek. “I think it was the same for everyone. It was pure power and I gave it my all. The pace plan was about a minute slower. We can be really, really happy.”

Defending Vuelta champion Sepp Kuss was 53 seconds slower than McNulty, which was only enough for 62nd place.

Primoz Roglic, a three-time Vuelta winner who switched from Team Visma-Lease a Bike to Team Red Bull Bora-Hansgrohe, was eighth fastest, 17 seconds behind McNulty.

The first three stages of this year's Vuelta will take place in Portugal. The three-week race includes eight mountain stages and two individual time trial stages. Only one stage is flat.

Tour de France winner Tadej Pogacar will not take part in the Vuelta, the last Grand Tour race of the season. Also absent are Jonas Vingegaard, runner-up in the Tour de France, and Remco Evenepoel, who completed the podium in France.

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