Thomas De Gendt secures opening Volta a Catalunya stage victory after stunning solo

Thomas De Gendt secured victory in the first stage of the Volta a Catalunya after a remarkable solo ride saw the Belgian finish first by almost three minutes.

Eurosport

Image credit: TNT Sports

The Lotto-Soudal rider was part of a six-man breakaway, but with 60km took matters into his own hands and did not look back on the Calella to Calella run.

Maximillian Schachmann ended the 163km stage in second, while Briton Chris Froome finished safely in the pack.

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Froome is taking part in his second event of the year as he gears up for his tilt at a fifth Tour de France title in July.

His Team Sky team-mate Egan Bernal was eighth overall, though the Colombian sits fifth in the general classification after earning bonus seconds.

Results

Volta a Catalunya 2019, stage one: Calella to Calella (163.7km)

General classification after stage one

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