The Volta a Catalunya 2022 began this Monday with a solid victory for Australian Michael Matthews (BikeExchange), who won the sprint against Italy's Sonny Colbrelli and Frenchman Quentin Pacher, second and third, respectively. The first day stretched for 171.2 kilometers in the municipality of Sant Feliu de Guixols, autonomous community of Catalonia.
In the midst of an important participation of Colombian cyclists, Sergio Higuita was the one who finished best, being fifth with the same time as the winner. Most of the 'Cafeteros' runners finished the fraction with the main group: from Juan Sebastián Molano and Nairo Quintana, who entered 13th and 25th, respectively, to Santiago Buitrago (51st) and Esteban Chaves (71st). Ivan Ramiro Sosa and Santiago Buitrago were also in the avant-garde ensemble.
The fraction was mostly flat, despite having some third-class ports at the beginning and in the second half of the route. With 130 kilometers to go to the finish, the real cuts were presented, leaving with them a group of six cyclists, among whom were Marco Brenner (DSM), Jonathan Caicedo (EF Education-EasyPost), Carlos Canal (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Raúl García Pierna (Kern Pharma).
With 100 km to finish, the difference between the escapees and the platoon was more than three minutes; however, this gap narrowed to 50 seconds, with 50 km to go to the end of the day. The pace imposed by both Movistar and Bota on the last climb brought its fruits and it was possible to hunt down that first fugue group.
But, in a maneuver of anticipation, other runners were able to form a new getaway, which would not be so easy to achieve despite attempts in the main group. It was until 5 km to go that Pieter Serry (Quick-Step), Bruno Armirail (Groupama), Théo Delacroix (Intermarché) and Jonas Hvideberg (DSM) ended up being taken over by the platoon, where the stage winner was defined.
Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz (INEOS Grenadiers) tried to move with 800 meters left, but, due to the characteristics of the end - a small slope - Matthews brought out his explosiveness and won to win his 38th victory as a professional. The previous celebration had been on August 25, 2020, at the Bretagne Classic.
The biggest shock was known at the end of the fraction, as Colbrelli had to receive a heart massage when crossing the finish line. According to sources from the organization, the Italian corridor had to be transferred to a hospital.
1. Michael Matthews (Australia/BikeExchange) - 3h47m11s
2. Sonny Colbrelli (Italia/ Bahrain Victorious) - m.t.
3. Quentin Pacher (France/Groupama) - m.t.
4. Andrea Bagioli (Italia/Quick-Step) - m.t.
5. Sergio Higuita (Colombia/Bora - Hansgrohe) - m.t.
6. Mattias Skjelmose Jensen (Dinamarca/Trek - Segafredo) - et al.
7. Simon Clarke (Australia/Israel - Premier Tech) - m.t.
8. Eduard Prades (Spain/Caja Rural) - m.t.
13. Juan Sebastian Molano (Colombia/UAE Team Emirates) - m.t.
25. Nairo Quintana (Colombia/Arkéa Samsic) - m.t.
47. Ivan Ramiro Sosa (Colombia/Movistar) - m.t.
51. Santiago Buitrago (Colombia/Bahrain - Victorious) - m.t.
71. Esteban Chaves (Colombia/EF Education-EasyPost) m.t.
87. Winner Anacona (Colombia/Arkéa Samsic) - 1:26 ″
The second day of the Volta a Catalynua will present a route similar to the first one through some smaller ports. Although it will have variations with respect to the levels followed by cyclists in the second part of the day. In the end, the flat terrain will prevail, offering the possibility for sprinters to gain an advantage if they manage to stay well placed in the main group.
In total, the fraction will have a route of 202.4 kilometers, the second longest of this edition, and will be developed between the towns of L'Escala and Perpignan.
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