Lara Gillespie, third rifer from right, moves up the TTT line to do her stint on the front on the opening stage of the Vuelta in Barcelona; the Wicklow rider making her Grand Tour debut in Spain (Photo by Szymon Gruchalski-Getty Images)

Lara Gillespie (UAE Team ADQ) is underway in her first Grand Tour, with the Irish woman taking on the opening stage team time trial in Barcelona today with her five team mates.

Though the UAE-backed World Tour squad was perhaps not one of the fancied line-ups to win the TTT, the chances for Gillespie, and some of her team mates, should come later in the race.

The Irish rider, in particular, has proven adept this season at getting in some breakaways, when the racing has been at its hardest, and has shown one of the best sprints in the world several times. And that’s a combination that can bring big wins on Grand Tours.

Today in Barcelona, victory in the 8.1km TTT when to the Lidl-Trek squad, with its powerhouse Ellen van Dijk – a seven-time world and European champion against the watch – now holding the race leader’s jersey ahead of the opening road stage tomorrow.

The Dutch rider was part of a Lidl Trek team that won the TTT by 2.83 seconds from Team SD Worx – Protime, with Liv AlUla Jayco 3rd at 3.46 seconds. Gillespie’s team placed 15th of the 21 teams in the race, losing 30 seconds.

However, as the Irish rider will not be competing for general classification, the time loss is of no consequence, with the flat or rolly road stages always going to hold more potential for her to make a mark.

Those chances, of taking a stage win or a top stage result, may come as early as tomorrow when the riders face 99km to Sant Boi de Llobregat, with 1,400 metres of elevation gain through the day.