Volta a Catalunya 2019: De Gendt wins 1st stage solo

The Volta a Catalunya serves a mountainous race with almost 3,100 vertical metres on its first day. Thomas De Gendt wins the race with a long-range attack. Obviously, the Flemish attacker is the first GC leader. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 1st stage Volta a Catalunya 2019

1. Thomas De Gendt (bel)
2. Maximilian Schachmann (ger) + 2.38
3. Grega Bole (slo) + 2.42
4. Michael Matthews (aus) s.t.
5. Mikel Bizkarra (spa) s.t.
6. André Greipel (ger) s.t.
7. Daryl Impey (rsa) s.t.
8. Egan Bernal (col) s.t.
9. Jay McCarthy (aus) s.t.
10. Damiano Caruso (ita) s.t.

GC after stage 1
1. Thomas De Gendt (bel)
2. Maximilian Schachmann (ger) + 2.48
3. Grega Bole (slo) + 2.54
4. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 2.56
5. Egan Bernal (col) + 2.57
6. Michael Matthews (aus) + 2.58
7. Mikel Bizkarra (spa) s.t.
8. André Greipel (ger) s.t.
9. Daryl Impey (rsa) s.t.
10. Jay McCarthy (aus) s.t.

Race report
Thomas De Gendt is headlining the breakaway. Gougeard, Madrazo, Duijn, Cuadros and Maté join the Flemish attacker for a sunny day in the mountains. The six race to a maximum lead of 5 minutes, while the gap has fallen below 3 minutes on the third ascent, Alt El Muntanyà, when the front group disintegrates.

De Gendt goes solo on the penultimate climb, Coll Formic. He reaches the top more than 3 minutes ahead of the peloton before he carves out his lead to more than 4 minutes. Meanwhile Valverde and Bernal pocket 2 and 1 seconds in an intermediate sprint.

De Gendt pushes on alone to win the race in his emblematic style. Schachmann attacks inside the last kilometres to finish in second, while Bole wins the peloton sprint ahead of Matthews.

Another interesting read: route 1st stage Volta a Catalunya 2019.