Volta a Catalunya 2015: Maciej Paterski takes stage 1

Both start and finish may be in coastal town Calella, but stage 1 in the Volta a Catalunya is definitely not a flat ride. It takes a while for a break to form, but then it is bingo big time. Bart De Clerq, Maciej Paterski and Pierre Rolland race to a huge gain and back in Calella they sprint for the win. The Pole is fastest and is the first leader in Catalunya, not only GC leader but KOM leader also. The pack with Contador, Froome et al is almost 3 minutes down. (Slideshow route/profile)

Volta a Catalunya 2015: Race results stage 1

1. Maciej Paterski (pol)
2. Pierre Rolland (fra) s.t.
3. Bart de Clerq (bel) + 0.02
4. Tosh van der Sande (bel) + 2.40
5. Julian Alaphilippe (fra) s.t.
6. Paolo Tiralongo (ita) s.t.
7. Enrico Gasparotto (ita) s.t.
8. Bryan Coquard (fra) s.t.
9. Carlos Barbero (spa) s.t.
10. Julian Simon (fra) s.t.

GC after stage 1
1. Maciej Paterski (pol)
2. Pierre Rolland (fra) + 0.04
3. Bart de Clerq (bel) + 0.08
4. Wout Poels (nld) + 2.47
5. Nicolas Roche (irl) + 2.48
6. Daniel Martin (irl) + 2.49
7. Tosh Van der Sande (bel) + 2.50
8. Julian Alaphilippe (fra) s.t.
9. Paolo Tiralongo (ita) s.t.
10. Enrico Gasparotto (ita) s.t.

Race report
Despite several attacks, the Volta a Catalunya opens with a compact pack for 26 km’s. Then the first break finally takes shape – Ben Gastauer, Benoît Jarrier and Jan Polanc. The last rider is in the next break also, with Keizer, Fröhlinger, Laborie, Sarmlento, Rolland, Vorobev, Senni, Chetout and De Gendt. But the pack takes them back with 52 km’s done.

En route Wouter Poels wins the first intermediate sprint, while his compatriot Martijn Keizer takes the second intermediate sprint.

The next attack is by Bart De Clerq, Maciej Paterski and Pierre Rolland and this time it’s bingo. They race to a maximum gain of 13’15”.

At the flanks of alto de Viladrau the gain is slightly shrinking, but once atop the trio is still 11’24” in bonus. Paterski is the first to crest the first coll in Catalunya 2015. The Pole takes KOM points at Alt del Coll Formic also and takes full score at the closing climb, so he is leader in the KOM classification.

At the closing climb, with 18 km’s left, the peloton starts to up the pace. Far too late and the trio is up for a surprise.

In the streets of Calella De Clercq attacks, but is the Pole taking over and turning the first day in Catalunya into a Paterski-special: stage win, CG lead and leader in the KOM-classification.

The pack finishes 2’40” down.