In a leg-breaking day, Nick Schultz (Israel – Premier Tech) won the inaugural stage of the Volta a Catalunya 2024, developed over 173.9 kilometers around Sant Feliu de Guíxols, as is traditional.
The Australian withstood the onslaught of the favorites and was the fastest in the definition, just beating the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates). The best Colombian of the day was Harold Tejada (Astana Qazaqstan) in the top 10, 2 seconds behind the winner.
The breakaway of the day was led by Norwegian Adne Holter (Uno-X Mobility), Spaniard Mikel Bizkarra (Euskaltel – Euskadi), Italian Simone Petilli (Intermarché – Wanty) and Frenchmen Kenny Elissonde (Cofidis) and Alex Baudin (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team).
Entering the final 60 kilometers, UAE Team Emirates assumed responsibility for the chase, considerably diminishing the breakaway’s lead. The breakaway ended with less than 40 kilometers to go.
In the final stretch, an intermediate sprint took place where Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) surprised Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) and won the three-second bonus. In the last meters the zipaquireño was involved in a fall, which did not prevent him from being reported with the same time as the winner. The beetle was in 4th place overall, 7 seconds behind leader Nick Schultz (Israel – Premier Tech).
Schultz declared at the conclusion of the circuit that if the stage had lasted two meters longer the Slovenian would have caught him. “The moment I opened up a gap, I saw that I had to go all the way. I was aware that Pogacar was coming at twice the speed of me. If I had lasted two meters longer, he would have caught me,” he admitted.
The Catalan round will continue on Tuesday with the second stage, a super-mountainous 186.5-kilometer day between Mataró and Vallter, with the first mountaintop finish. The successor to Slovenian Primoz Roglic, last year’s champion, will be announced on Sunday in Barcelona.
Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2024 (2.UWT)
Results Stage 1 | Sant Feliu de Guíxols – Sant Feliu de Guíxols (173,9 km)
| 1 | Nick Schultz | Israel – Premier Tech | 4:11:38 |
| 2 | Tadej Pogačar | UAE Team Emirates | ,, |
| 3 | Stephen Williams | Israel – Premier Tech | ,, |
| 4 | Dorian Godon | Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team | 0:02 |
| 5 | Axel Laurance | Alpecin – Deceuninck | ,, |
| 6 | Rémy Rochas | Groupama – FDJ | ,, |
| 7 | Ilan Van Wilder | Soudal Quick-Step | ,, |
| 8 | Aleksandr Vlasov | BORA – hansgrohe | ,, |
| 9 | Sepp Kuss | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | ,, |
| 10 | Harold Tejada | Astana Qazaqstan Team | ,, |
Ranking General
| 1 | Nick Schultz | Israel – Premier Tech | 4:11:28 |
| 2 | Tadej Pogačar | UAE Team Emirates | 0:02 |
| 3 | Stephen Williams | Israel – Premier Tech | 0:06 |
| 4 | Egan Bernal | INEOS Grenadiers | 0:07 |
| 5 | Laurens De Plus | INEOS Grenadiers | 0:09 |
| 6 | Dorian Godon | Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team | 0:10 |
| 7 | Axel Laurance | Alpecin – Deceuninck | ,, |
| 8 | Rémy Rochas | Groupama – FDJ | ,, |
| 9 | Ilan Van Wilder | Soudal Quick-Step | ,, |
| 10 | Aleksandr Vlasov | BORA – hansgrohe | ,, |
Source: Revista Mundo Ciclístico y Agencia Prensa Latina