The finish of the time trial is 760 meters lower than the start, so the route is very downhill-heavy. Nevertheless, the bikers from 25 different nations face two climbs lasting two to three minutes, which are quite a challenge. And at the end, there is a flat section in the headwind. The Czech Jaroslav Kulhavy (Specialized Racing) is just under eight seconds faster than the Swiss Thomas Litscher (jb Brunex-Felt) on the 14.6-kilometre course from Lefkara to Skarinou, with Jan Skarnitzl (Sram Mitas Trek) another Czech in third place, 24.5 seconds behind.

Jaroslav Kulhavy: "I felt very good, but in some corners I was too fast, slid off and lost a few seconds as a result. I was able to put a lot of pressure on the flat section, but the climbs weren't easy. I rode in at 100 percent, but I couldn't quite pull it off.
This time trial is very special with so much downhill, but I like it. I'm very happy for the first race. But I also have to be in good shape so that I can keep up with Christoph Sauser at the Cape Epic."

Thomas Litscher: "I suffered a lot. The climbs were longer than I expected, so I had to push a little longer. I didn't have as many reserves on the flat section to the finish. But I'm quite happy with the gap of seven seconds to Jaro and second place."

Jan Skarnitzl: "Third place is perfect. I'm not the best downhill skier in the World Cup, gravel roads are not my thing. But there were also climbs and they suited me. Also the flat section in the wind, I know that from home. But for the overall classification, I think the newly designed third stage will be more decisive than before."

Last year's winner Fabian Giger (Kross Racing) already lost 1:13 minutes in 17th place.

Defect for defending champion

When Anne Terpstra reaches the finish line, she is far from believing she can win. She felt she had suffered too much in the wind over the last three kilometers.
But the Dutchwoman will contest the second stage in the yellow jersey. This is a first for Terpstra at the Afxentia race.

Margot Moschetti (CST Sandd American Eagle) is 12.3 seconds slower. The Frenchwoman is not known as a strong downhill racer. "But she has worked a lot on her technique," says her team boss Bart Brentjens.
Alexandra Engen (Ghost Factory Racing) needed just 0.2 seconds more and claimed a podium place right at the start. The Swede seems to be slowly returning to her former strength.

Anne Terpstra: "I am very surprised about the victory. I didn't even think about a result. I wanted to save energy for the flat section at the end, but it didn't quite work out. That's why I'm surprised that I rode the best time.
A stage like this is something completely new. It's a long downhill, but also two steep climbs and a long flat section at the end. Maybe that's why there are other names at the front. I think that's pretty cool. The other days are something completely different, for now I'm happy for today, we'll see tomorrow."

Margot Moschetti: "I was very unsure about my form because I had no comparison after almost a year off. I felt good, but I didn't know what it was worth."

Alexandra Engen: "It was fun. I had a strategy of how I wanted to divide up the race and I was able to do exactly that. It's not that easy. When you're at the bottom, you think you're done now, but then there are still five kilometers to go."

Defending champion Gunn-Rita Dahle-Flesjaa (Merida Gunn-Rita) suffers a puncture and has to cover a large part of the route with a flat tire. She loses 5:25 minutes to Terpstra. "It's a shame that I didn't have any fun on the stage with the biggest fun factor. But that's racing. I think my chances in the overall standings are gone"

Sabine Spitz (WIAWIS) finishes the time trial in sixth place, 47 seconds behind Terpstra. Six months after her serious knee injury, the German is satisfied. "It's still taking me a while to get to grips with the bike setup, but in terms of body feeling it's what I expected. However, this time trial doesn't allow us to draw many conclusions yet," explained Spitz.www.cyclingcy.com

Cyprus Sunshine Cup, Afxentia 2017, stage 1
Men Elite
1	Jaroslav Kulhavy (CZE)	0:25:17:00
2.	Thomas Litscher (SUI)	0:25:25:00
3	Jan Skarnitzl (CZE)	0:25:42:00
4.	Sebastian Fini Carstensen (DEN)	0:25:58:00
5.	Matthias Wengelin (SWE)	0:25:58:00
Women Elite
1.	Anne Terpstra (NED)	0:29:27:00
2.	Margot Moschetti (FRA)	0:29:39:00
3.	Aleandra Engen (SWE)	0:29:40:00
4.	Barbara Benko (HUN)	0:29:43:00
5.	Githa Michiels (BEL)	0:30:13:00
Juniors
1.	Jorin Gabriel (SUI)	0:27:05:00
2.	Tomer Zaltsman (ISR)	0:28:52:00
3.	Kang Changhyeon (KOR)	0:28:57:00