Stage 1 sees several hills on the route but still is expected to be the easiest stage and hence favouring the sprinters.
WCC with Castaneda/Lay looking strong, so is Mezgec, who might be best of the fast men over hills alongside Kruopis and Kreder.
4 riders in the breakaway. Stöhr Kneisky Biondo Bico
First three did go for the intermediate with Biondo being first there.
Not a lot happening on such stage. But here on the Alto de la Chapela the KoM jersey is being decided for tomorrow.
Biondo ahead of Stöhr, Bico and Kneisky.
Soon Stöhr goes past Biondo, which might have been kind of expected as he is the strongest puncheur on paper.
And hence the VMP rider takes the KoM jersey for tomorrow. Biondo and Kneisky behind him with Bico yet again no chance.
Behind it`s Balkan Project and Xero doing most work. Also In-n-Out and Azteca are seen regularly.
But in especially Xero`s Kennett is doing a fantastic job working 75% of the times.
Last sprint goes to Biondo again with Kneisky and Bico behind him.
With 13,5km to go the break already passing the finish line and behind it`s just 50s for the peloton. Hence likely coming to a catch. Even more as also WCC is showing up in front now.
Bad luck for Belkov as he just punctures in that moment and surely struggles to make it back in time.
WCC`s Visconti and Armee leading the peloton and this was the end of todays breakaway. 7km ahead of the finish they are caught.
3km and it`s going slightly uphill. No real sprint formation today and it`s still Visconti in first line. Lay behind right behind while Castaneda is blocked in the middle.
Visconti
Lay
Corti
Sonnery
Kreder
Ariesen
Vachon
Mezgec
Castañeda
Juarez
Kruopis
Suryadi
Clarke
Trillini
Vaquera
Belletti
Thwaites
Basically just the Sauber duo missing but both Manan and Awang are about to get dropped right now.
1,7km and Lay in front now. Not ideal as Castaneda dropped back into 15th position while the actual leadout rider Vasylyuk wasn`t in the preperations at all.
This way the riders behind Kreder, Sonnery, Corti and so on get a great leadout by Lay.
Though Lay has won PT stages in past (iirc even a GT stage) and hence he still is ahead with 800m to go.
Kreder right behind him with Corti following next.
400m and Lay is struggling. Kreder on the way past him now and looking good.
Behind Kruopis and Vaquera also coming fast with Corti in the middle of them.
200m and Kreder in the lead now.
Lay just needs a bit more to defend the 2nd but the trio behind is fast.
For Kreder it all didn`t matter. He is one bike length ahead and takes the win. Great one for Philips.
Behind him a photo finish. Lucky one is Corti who is giving 2nd ahead of Lay in 3rd.
Vaquera unlucky 4th with Kruopis dropping back to 5th even.
Mazgec as 6th clearly was hoping for more, Clarke 7th ahead of Juarez.
