Volta a Catalunya 2017: Cimolai outsprints Bouhanni to take first leaders jersey

The Volta a Catalunya begins with a hilly ride of 178.9 kilometres with both start and finish in the coastal town Calella. Despite six climbs underway the race boils down to a bunch sprint with Cimolai besting Bouhanni by centimetres. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 1st stage Volta a Catalunya

1. Davide Cimolai (ita)
2. Nacer Bouhanni (fra) s.t.
3. Kristian Sbaragli (ita) s.t.
4. Dion Smith (nzl) s.t.
5. André Greipel (ger) s.t.
6. José Joaquin Rojas (spa) s.t.
7. Daryl Impey (rsa) s.t.
8. Petr Vakoc (cze) s.t.
9. Phil Bauhaus (ger) s.t.
10. Enrico Gasparotto (ita) s.t.

GC after 1st stage
1. Davide Cimolai (ita)
2. Nacer Bouhanni (fra) + 0.04
3. Kristian Sbaragli (ita) + 0.06
4. Dion Smith (nzl) + 0.10
5. André Greipel (ger) s.t.
6. José Joaquin Rojas (spa) s.t.
7. Daryl Impey (rsa) s.t.
8. Petr Vakoc (cze) s.t.
9. Phil Bauhaus (ger) s.t.
10. Enrico Gasparotto (ita) s.t.

Race report
Despite several earlier attempts the break of the day takes shape on the first climb of the day. Pierre Rolland, Murilo Affonso, Magno Nazaret and Antonio Nibali get clear on Coll de Parpers to race to a lead of more than 3 minutes. Yet the peloton keeps them on a leash as the gap doesn’t widen.

On the second 1st-category climb, the Formic, Brandon Canty, Axel Domont and Jesse Bol chase the front group down. Bol and Domont push on together, but just before tackling the Alt de Collsacreau it’s all together again.

Late attacks by Cyriel Gautier and Peter Kennaugh are neutralized before Davide Cimolai narrowly bests Nacer Bouhanni in the ensuing sprint.

Read about the route of the 1st stage of the Volta a Catalunya 2017.

Volta a Catalunya 2017 stage 1: Route maps, height profiles, and more

Click on the images to zoom

Davide Cimolai


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