Volta a Catalunya 2016: Powerful sprint victory Bouhanni in stage 1

Results 1st stage Volta a Catalunya

1. Nacer Bouhanni (fra)
2. Ben Swift (gbr) s.t.
3. Daryl Impey (rsa) s.t.
4. Enrico Gasparotto (ita) s.t.
5. Alexey Tsatevich (rus) s.t.
6. Sergio Barbero (ita) s.t.
7. Julien Simon (fra) s.t.
8. Kévin Réza (fra) s.t.
9. Eduard Prades (spa) s.t.
10. Georg Preidler (aut) s.t.

GC after stage 1
1. Nacer Bouhanni (fra)
2. Ben Swift (gbr) + 0.04
3. Daryl Impey (rsa) + 0.06
4. Cameron Meyer (aus) + 0.09
5. Enrico Gasparotto (ita) + 0.10
6. Alexey Tsatevich (rus) s.t.
7. Sergio Barbero (ita) s.t.
8. Julien Simon (fra) s.t.
9. Kévin Réza (fra) s.t.
10. Eduard Prades (spa) s.t.

Race report
With 5 kms done Thurau, Koch and Honig jump off the front of the peloton. To no avail. Dron, Mas and Meyer are more fortunate and they race to a 6 minutes lead.

After cresting the first three climbs the break is reeled in. At the flanks of Alt del Montseny Louis Vervaeke goes solo and Bookwalter, Bouet, Domont, Frank, Preidler and Verona try to bridge the gap while heading for the Alt de Collsacre. They hook up halfway the climb but when cresting the peloton is bunched again.

Thurau attacks with 6 kms left. Roche joins him and leaves him alone without respite. But with 2 kms left he is gobbled up and then it’s show time for Nacer Bouhanni. The Frenchman is by far the fastest rider in the Volta a Catalunya.

Volta a Catalunya 2016 stage 1: Route maps, height profiles, etc.

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All stages

Route and profile

Profile 1st stage

Route 1st stage

Start in Calella

Final kilometres

All profiles

Finish in Calella

Calella at Google Maps

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