The closing kilometres of Stage 10 featured punctures galore in the peloton, with GC contenders Wilco Kelderman, Nairo Quintana and Simon Yates all suffering delays.
But tough hustling from their Sunweb, Movistar and Mitchelton-Scott team mates ensured the pair made it back to the bunch.
"It could've been much, much worse," Yates said. "We were expecting a bit more of a cross wind but it was more in the face, more of a head wind.
"I've had some bad experiences before having a puncture and then waiting and changing for my own bike or changing the wheel. So today we changed for my team mate's bike, I changed for Albasini's bike. And it's a little bit too big and then obviously I had to change again. It was OK though.
The race leader, who suffered a double puncture, said it was still an easy first day in red.
"It was OK, quite relaxed," the Brit said. "Really nothing happened - the breakaway went away quite easily. The sprinter teams - they did all the work today so a credit to those guys."
Asked if he expected Quintana's team mate Alejandro Valverde to go for the stage's bonus points and claim the lead, and if that was a good thing, he answered. "I was not sure. And he didn't in the end."
"It depends how you look at it. I'm looking at the overall picture I want the red jersey in Madrid and maybe now is not a good time to have the jersey."
