Volta a Catalunya 2014 - Stage 1

The Volta a Catalunya kicked off on Monday with a 165.7 kilometre stage which started and finished in Calella. Despite having a few difficult climbs, including a Category 1, it was a flat finish, and so the stage favoured men who could get over climbs, but also sprint at the end of it. The lumpy terrain was however conjusive for a breakaway, and two men tried their luck.

Boris Vallee, a neo-pro on the Lotto-Belisol team, was joined by Romain Lemarchand of Cofidis. Their lead reached a maximum of eight minutes, but as the Category 1 climb approached, their lead was quickly diminishing. On the climb, Amets Txurruka, formerly of Euskaltel-Euskadi, and now of Caja-Rural, attacked with the aim of getting to breakaway.

He caught up on the descent, and it looked as if the extra impetus added by Txurruka would help the break. However, the peloton was in a winning mood, and worked hard to bring the break back. The attacks weren't finished though, as another trio including Julian Arredondo (Trek) went briefly clear. When this trio were reeled back, another trio attacked.

Mickael Cherel (AG2R La Mondiale) was the first to go, and he was joined by Wilco Kelderman (Belkin) and Romain Hardy (Cofidis). The break looked strong, until a roundabout with ten kilometres still remaining. Cherel and Hardy took a wrong turn, leaving Kelderman out in front on his own. The organisation of the peloton meant that Kelderman wasn't going to make it, and it was eyes down for the sprint.

Despite being boxed in in the sprint, Giant-Shimano's Luka Mezgec took the win in front of the Australian Leigh Howard. Julian Alaphilippe of Omega Pharma-Quickstep produced an impressive performance to take third. Mezgec therefore took the white and green leader's jersey. Richie Porte (Sky) had a rough day however, finishing three minutes down on the main group.