Astana won the Team Time Trial on the opening stage of the 68th Vuelta a España.
On a day where Theo Boss was sent home by his Belkin team for having a low cortisol level during a test, the final Grand Tour of the season got underway in glorious weather.
The Team Time Trial started on a dias out in the sea off Vilanova de Arousa, which the teams had to reach by boat.
Team Net App Endura were the first team down the ramp on the technical 27km course to Sanxenxo. They finished in 30.34 which proved to be a good time.
It lasted until Tony Martin led his Omega Pharma Quick Step team that featured Scot Andy Fenn, over the line in a time of 30.15.
Team Saxo-Tinkoff without last year's La Vuelta winner Alberto Contador but including Irishman Nicholas Roche finished in 30.31 before Team Sky, whose nine man team included Welshman Luke Rowe, powered back in the second half of the course to finish in 30.21.
Danny Martin and his Garmin-Sharp team finished in 31.40 but then Fabian Cancellera led in Radio Shack who finished in 30.09 in an average speed of 54km/h.
Last team down the ramp, Astana were quickest at the 20km mark and they finished ten seconds ahead of RadioShack in 20.59.
Janez Brajkovic was over the line for Astana and will wear the leader's red jersey going into the second stage.