The first road stage of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya is completely flat and most likely to end in a bunch sprint. The favorites for today are Ben Swift, Oscar Guerao, Daniele Bennati and Jacopo Guarnieri, who even has the chance of gaining the leader's jersey with a win today. However, there are of course more strong sprinters trying to challenge those mentioned before, and a breakaway that will fight for more than just the intermediate and mountain sprints.
The first attacker of the day is Maxime Daniel. He is followed by Freddy Montana, M. Gonzales Salas and yesterday's eigth, Marlen Zmorka.
However, despite numerous efforts, their move doesn't stick and they're pulled back.
It takes several kilometers and a seemingly endless series of attacks until finally, one man is allowed to stay clear: Juan Gallego Martin, a rouleur par excellence without any other notable qualities except his big engine and his fighting spirit - both of which come in very handy now.
However, the attacks keep coming, and more often than not, it's Marlen Zmorka who iniates them. But the pack led by Pendleton's, Vesuvio and Lotto is always attentive, so the only thing these attacks achieve is that the advance of Gallego Martin doesn't grow a lot.
However, as soon as a trio without Zmorka jumps away, they're let go and quickly catch up with Gallego Martin. These three riders are:
Daan Olivier D. Allonca Jempy Drucker
At the intemediate sprint, that Olivier wins in front of Gallego Martin and Allonca, they have an advance of a minute.
But as you can see, Jempy Drucker is obviously not up to the task today. He falls back at the sprint and can't come back. For the rest of the stage, it's a trio that is at the front of the race.
At the mountain sprint a few kilometers later, Daan Olivier again proves to be the strongest. He takes the maximum points in front of Allonca and will wear the mountain jersey tomorrow.
At this moment, with 57 of 127 kms to go, the escapees have an advance of 3'20. The peloton, now with Wikipedia in the lead, keeps them on a short leash.
And indeed, the escapees have had no chance today. Lotto – Australia Post and Vesuvio made the last efforts and the catch is made with 12 kilometers to go. The sprint preperations can begin.
And this is the overhead view as the sprint trains hit the front:
Van Hoff
Blythe
Feillu
Croqet
Thwaites
Schlechter
Irvine
Bennati
Rowe
Merino Criado
Mohs
Swift
Guarnieri
Van Heerden
Gilling
Bos
Guerao
Lotto has the best-working train here, while Guarnieri lost touch a little to his teammates, who're having trouble with Vesuvio. Van Heerden, Bos and Guerao are a bit behind, trying to find the right wheel, while the likes of Stauff, Howard, Reimer and Santos are further behind, struggling to get to the front.
But a few hundred meters later, the image changes drastically. Van Hoff brings the Lotto train in the pole position, Mohs still on Bennati's wheel. Guarnieri managed to get on Rowe's wheel, those two are the ones just behind Mohs. Stauff managed to grab Guarnieri's slipstream and is in a good position now while Swift fell back considerably, having Guerao between himself and his two lead out men. Theo Bos tries to hang on.
With 2,5 kms to go, Vesuvio and Good Energy managed to get their trains organized again, but Lotto with Mohs and Stauff following are still in front. Guerao and Van Heerden start their sprint from somewhere in between...
... while a bit further behind Howard, Santos, Zabel and Reimer are desperately trying to catch up. Anybody behind them at this point is out of contention for a good result today.
At the front, the last leadout men take over. Croqet takes the lead for Bennati, on the left it's Merino Criado for Ben Swift. Luke Rowe tries to bring Guarnieri to the front, but he's blocked by Andreas Stauff, who is now accelerating. Mohs still waits for his final move.
Into the last corner, a little over a kilometer to go, the three leadouts are at level at the front. However, Guarnieri is still a bit behind Rowe, although he has Stauff beside him now. Guerao tries to pass him, while Van Heerden has a nice position in Swift's wheel.
Under the kite, Merino Criado and Rowe are still in front but Swift and Bennati are making their moves now. Bennati waited very long and lost his good position, can he make up for it with his final punch? Meanwhile, Van Heerden and Guarnieri have almost caught up with them, Bos, Guerao and Howard are also very fast but they could be too far behind.
The finish line is in sight as Swift takes the lead, Bennati can't match his acceleration. Van Heerden tries to overtake him as well as Guarnieri on the other side of the road, with Guerao also still going strong. Swift went first, can he keep it up?
We're in the final meters and it's going to be close! Van Heerden attacks, but the fastest at the moment are Bennati and Mohs in the middle! Most of the riders behind are already fading, so those, plus of course Guarnieri and Guerao on the right, will battle for the Top 5 places.
Swift timed his move perfectly and is rewarded with a well-deserved win here. Guarnieri saves a second places, which vaults him to sixth overall. Bennati eventually comes back for a podium spot, Van Heerden faded towards the end and finishes fourth, in front of Mohs and Guerao.
Martin Reimer can be satisfied with his seventh place, beating compatriot Andreas Stauff. Theo Bos finishes nineth and Leigh Howard completes the Top 10.
No complete surprises today, I'd say. Nizzolo probably the biggest disappointment today, but such a field is really tough for a second-tier sprinter like him. A few riders lost time today, but no one important. Maybe worth noting the Top 25 results of Ignatiev, Phinney and Trofimov, who underline their ambitions.
