MADRID, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Max Schachmann (Soudal Quick-Step) won the opening stage time trial on the first day of the Itzulia cycle race on Monday.

Schachmann covered the 16.5-kilometer stage which started and finished in the city of Vitoria, in 18 minutes and 37 seconds, just a fraction of a second ahead of Joao Almeida (UAE-Team Emirates) who was given the same time at the finish.

Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe) was third on the stage, just a second behind, while Ethan Hayter (Soudal Quick-Step) finished fourth.

Enric Mas (Movistar) was one of the major disappointments in the opening stage, finishing a minute and 10 seconds behind the leader after his recent third overall in the Volta a Catalunya a week ago.

Along with the Volta a Catalunya, the Itzulia is one of the most important early season stage races ahead of the Giro d'Italia, offering riders who are not competing in the Belgium Spring Classics (Tour of Flanders, Paris Roubaix) the chance to get competitive kilometers in their legs in testing terrain.

Tuesday's second stage takes the race 199.8 kilometers from Pamplona and Lodosa with just one categorized climb, but constantly rolling terrain should produce a reduced sprint finish. Enditem

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