Luka Mezgec (Giant-Shimano) outsprinted Leigh Howard (Orica-GreenEDGE) to win stage one of the Volta a Catalunya.
The Giant-Shimano man, racing on the back of victory at the Handzame Classic, led out a long sprint without any team-mates to beat the Australian.
The Slovenian sprinter had to wait until the very last day of last season for a WorldTour victory, but this time out he made no mistake in his first WorldTour race of 2014 to move into the green and white hooped jersey of race leader.
Boris Vallee (Lotto-Belisol) and Romain Lemarchand (Cofidis) went up the road to form the day’s break, earning a gap which rapidly grew to more than eight minutes.
Cedric Pineau (FDJ.fr) took a one-second bonus at the intermediate sprint, kicking from the bunch, but up the road the two escapees were allowed to stay comfortably out in front.
The lead tumbled gradually through the day though, eventually prompting Amets Txurruka (Caja Rural) to set off in pursuit of the two escapees on the descent of the Alt de Montseney.
With no other rider matching his phenomenal acceleration, Txurruka bridged to the front but their lead was brought down rapidly with several teams taking turns on the front of the bunch.
As the race came back together however, the attacks and counter-attacks started – with several riders bidding to replicate Sir Bradley Wiggins’ race-splitting move of last year.
Belkin rallied first, upping the pace, before Julian Arredondo (Trek Factory Racing), Paul Martens (Belkin) and Gianluca Brambilla (Omega Pharma-Quickstep) earned a small gap.
It was short-lived, but Belkin stayed active and Wilco Kelderman was next to attack, joined by Mikael Cherel (Ag2r-La Mondiale) and Romain Hardy (Cofidis).
Their lead on the descent of the Collsacreu was small, but their attack – and the response from the bunch – was enough to string the bunch out with 12 kilometres to go.
A mistake by Hardy, completely misjudging the direction at a roundabout with Cherel on his wheel, split the leading trio up however, leaving Kelderman on his own up front.
Cherel’s disappointment was evident as he was returned to the bunch, and out on his own Kelderman – despite taking up the solo attack – never looked like succeeding.
He was caught shortly afterwards with Cannondale and Orica-GreenEDGE leading the bunch into Calella on the slightly uphill finish.
Mezgec led the sprint out while Howard kicked from behind a superb lead-out to move momentarily in front.
With both having opted for a long sprint however, the Australian did not have the legs to compete and Mezgec came through for victory.
Further back, all the chief GC contenders finished safely in the leading group with Chris Froome (Team Sky), on his return from injury, coming 47th but team-mate Richie Porte finished in a small group 2’58” back.
Volta a Catalunya 2014: stage one – result
1) Luka Mezgec (SVN) – Giant-Shimano – 4.09.13hrs
2) Leigh Howard (AUS) – Orica-GreenEDGE – ST
3) Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) – Omega Pharma-Quickstep
4) Paul Martens (GER) – Belkin Pro Cycling
5) Tosh van der Sande (BEL) – Lotto-Belisol
6) Daniele Ratto (ITA) – Cannondale
7) Marcus Burghardt (GER) – BMC Racing
8) Roberto Ferrari (ITA) – Lampre-Merida
9) Samuel Dumoulin (FRA) – Ag2r-La Mondiale
10) Kevin Reza (FRA) – Team Europcar
General classification (provisional)
1) Luke Mezgec (SVN) – Giant-Shimano – 3.59.13hrs
2) Leigh Howard (AUS) – Orica-GreenEDGE +4″
3) Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) – Omega Pharma-Quickstep +6″
4) Boris Vallee (BEL) – Lotto-Belisol +8″
5) Cedric Pineau (FRA) – FDJ.fr +9″
6) Paul Martens (BEL) – Belkin Pro Cycling +10″
7) Tosh van der Sande (BEL) – Lotto-Belisol – ST
8) Daniele Ratto (ITA) – Cannondale
9) Marcus Burghardt (GER) – BMC Racing
10) Roberto Ferrari (ITA) – Lampre-Merida
