Maciej Paterski wins opening stage of Volta a Catalunya

By foxsports
Published

CALELLA, Spain (AP) Maciej Paterski of Poland won the opening stage of Spain's Volta a Catalunya, outsprinting Pierre Rolland and Bart De Clercq to the finish on Monday.

The trio broke away after 60 kilometers (37.3 miles) and at one point led by 13 minutes, before the 28-year-old Paterski timed his sprint to edge Rolland of France on the same time. De Clercq of Belgium was third, 00.02 seconds behind the CCC-Sprandi-Polkowice rider.

The pack, led by De Clercq's Lotto teammate, Tosh Van der Sande, crossed the line two minutes, 40 seconds later.

De Clercq attacked first in the final mile, but Paterski lunged forward and held off Rolland's late charge for his first win this season.

The Volta has attracted top riders including Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) and Chris Froome (Sky), although Nairo Quintana (Movistar) and Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) aren't taking part.

Froome missed a top-10 place by finishing 11th, two minutes, 40 seconds behind.

The race included a 1,145 meter (3757 foot) category 1 climb up the Coll Formic peak as well as category 2 and 3 climbs.

Tuesday's stage, the second of seven, will be a 191.8-kilometer (119-mile) mountain stage from Mataro to Olot.