Rohan Dennis pulls on the Red Leader's Jersey at the Opening Time Trial

Rohan Dennis (BMC Racing) the fastest over the 8km time trial ahead of Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky) and Victor Campenarts (Lotto Soudal)

Last year, Dennis took the Red Jersey after winning the Team Time Trial with BMC but this year it's all his own effort.

For this first stage of the 2018 Vuelta, the route was short, but not necessarily sweet. At 8km, the distance itself wouldn’t be testing, but on an Individual Time Trial, the course doesn’t have to be long to be hard. While flat from start to finish, with barely a rise in gradient on the Malaga street circuit, there were a few sections where riders could be caught out. In the first few kilometres, the stage would take in the harbour headland – the most exposed section of the parcours – before heading back along the coast and then further inland. The flat terrain and wide open roads meant high speeds were likely, and the possibility of being the first to wear the red jersey of race leader would make riders push that little bit harder.

Dennis one of the last 10 riders to roll down the ramp, overhauled everyone, with just Vincenzo Nibali left on the course.

Dylan van Baarle (Team Sky) set the early fastest time under ten minutes on tne 8km course.

Next Nelson Oliveira (Movistar) was next to to go faster in a time of 9m 56s, but Team Sky's Kwiatkowski, who beat the Portuguese riders’ time by ten seconds.

Victor Campenaerts (Lotto-Soudal) came close juts 1 second slower, but it was Rohan Dennis who went faster with a time of 9m 39m to take the overall lead.

Dennis now has a complete set of Grand Tour leaders jersey's for the Giro, Vuelta and Tour de France.

Tomorrow's stage 2 from Marbella to Caminito del Rey is 163.9 kms and features a short punchy summit finish and will allow a climber or puncheur to win the stage.No doubt BMC will be looking to defend the leader's jersey.

VIDEO: 2018 La Vuelta Stage 1 Highlights

2018 La Vuelta Stage 1 Top 10

1 Rohan Dennis (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:09:39 
2 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Team Sky 0:00:06 
3 Victor Campenaerts (Bel) Lotto Soudal 0:00:07 
4 Nelson Oliveira (Por) Movistar Team 0:00:17 
5 Dylan van Baarle (Ned) Team Sky 0:00:20 
6 Alessandro De Marchi (Ita) BMC Racing Team 0:00:21 
7 Jonathan Castroviejo (Spa) Team Sky   
8 Simon Geschke (Ger) Team Sunweb   
9 Ion Izagirre (Spa) Bahrain-Merida 0:00:22 
10 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team Sunweb