Volta a Catalunya 2022: Matthews wins uphill sprint to take race lead

image: Cor VosMichael Matthew pulls it off again in Sant Feliu de Guíxols. Just like three years ago he wins the uphill sprint. He outguns Sonny Colbrelli and Quentin Pacher to take the race lead. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 1st stage 2022 Volta a Catalunya

1. Michael Matthews (aus)
2. Sonny Colbrelli (ita) s.t.
3. Quentin Pacher (fra) s.t.
4. Sergio Higuita (col) s.t.
5. Andrea Bagioli (ita) s.t.
6. Mattias Skjelmose Jensen (den) s.t.
7. Simon Clarke (aus) s.t.
8. Eduard Prades (spa) s.t.
9. Huge Hofstetter (fra) s.t.
10. Attila Valter (hun) s.t.

GC after stage 1
1. Michael Matthews (aus)
2. Sonny Colbrelli (ita) + 0.04
3. Jonas Iversby Hvideberg (nor) s.t.
4. Quentin Pacher (fra) + 0.06
5. Sergio Higuita (col) + 0.10
6. Andrea Bagioli (ita) s.t.
7. Mattias Skjelmose Jensen (den) s.t.
8. Simon Clarke (aus) s.t.
9. Eduard Prades (spa) s.t.
10. Huge Hofstetter (fra) s.t.

Race report
The peloton is still bunched at the foot of the first KOM climb. Alex Molenaar gives it a go and the 22-year old Dutchman is the first rider at the summit. He pockets the points before he is brought back.

It lasts until kilometre 40 for the breakaway to materialize. Jetse Bol, Marco Brenner, Jonathan Caicedo, Carlos Canal, Raul Garciá and Antonio Jesús Soto open a 4 minutes gap.

Cross winds split the peloton around the midway marker. Simon Yates, Michael Matthews, Michael Woods, Rohan Dennis, Daryl Impey and Steven Kruijswijk are among the riders in the first group. They rejoin the leaders, making 25 men at the front.

The chasers are 1 minute down before it starts to come down gradually. Pelotón agrupado with 50 kilometres remaining.

Caicedo doesn’t dilly-dally and goes solo. Bruno Armirail, Théo Delacroix, Jonas Iversby Hvideberg, Pieter Serry and Alex Molenaar track the Ecuadorian down.

Molenaar and Caicedo can’t follow the pace on the last climb of the day, while the other four reach the summit 30 seconds ahead of the bunch.

The catch is made inside the last 8 kilometres before Michael Matthews powers to the win with a well-timed uphill sprint. The Australian outguns Sonny Colbrelli and Quentin Pachet to become this year’s first race leader in Catalonia.

Another interesting read: route 1st stage 2022 Volta a Catalunya.