It was one of the biggest favorites and it didn’t fail Eritrean Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) at the finish line in Alteawhere he starts from the last 200 meters to impose authority on his opponents and become the first leader of the group Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana “Gran Premi Banc de Sabadell”behind first stagecontroversial this Wednesday Orihuela and the town of Altea.

This is how Girmay was remadeone of the sensations of last season and it should be like that right now, last season’s Second place in Majorcaduration Spaniard García Cortina finished third, ahead of Movistar Teammates José Joaquín Rojas and Álex Aranburu and just behind Jumbo-Visma’s Dutch Olav Kooij..

Together medium mountain profile, the group almost passed two challenges in the second category, the ports of Rates and Bernia, and it was not decisive the final segment of the descent or the slope less than ten kilometers from the finish linehe tried The Valencia corridor of Euskaltel-Euskadi Joan Bou. The goal, however, was the sprint of a team of fifty riders, where Eritrean left their opponents no choice.

on a day that With Pello Bilbao as the leader, the Bahrain Winner displayed quite a goodwill statement by controlling the race across two mountain passes. and canceled any surprises that could harm the Biscayan cyclist’s aspirations to win the general classification at Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana.

The beginning of Volta’s 74th edition was quiet, except for some dips with no significant consequences. Y The day’s split of Carretero (EKP), Okamika (BBH), Isasa (EUS), Lucca (GBF) and Vanhoof (TFB) took almost a three-minute advantage.flying as soon as the peloton starts to climb to the top With 75 kilometers left, Coll de Rates.


View from the start of the stage in Orihuela TONY SEVILLA


Bahrain Winner with Mohoric and Poels gained momentum in the final part of the first port. A regular training spot for de la Volta and the international peloton. Marc Soler (UAD) took first place at the top of the Coll de Rates. and on the rapid descent there was the threat of a cut that was futile when it appeared. most of the group in Parcent (Alicante), less than fifty for the finish line.

got off the hookYes youA group of twenty, among them fast Kristoff (UXT)The port of Bernia, which keeps the rhythm alive in the passage upon Bahrain’s insistence, is also in the second category. Caruso (TBV) led the pack on the first ramps of the harbor from the first day of Pello Bilbao’s overall victory.

The pace was fast enough and the trickle of runners giving up the queue was constant. Ahead, no one seemed willing to discuss command. The Mediterranean is already in the background and with Altea’s goal, the team from the Persian Gulf who also shoots on the landing at the top of the fastest.

The peloton, already consisting of about fifty riders, crossed the finish line by the 20-kilometer banner, and Pello Bilbao’s team withdrew from the front line.. That’s when the battle for a good break began, but Jumbo and Movistar told themselves Altea was a great option to win. With fertile land, Arcas (MOV) led the group.

On the last slope of the day, with a total distance of 189.4 kilometers, Valencia’s Joan Bou (EUS) jumped out of the group and faced her followers for six kilometers. He was swallowed by the peloton at the entrance to Altea, where the favorite Intermarché finally appeared. Girmay, who won the first victory of the course without giving up.

This Thursday, the second stage will take place, starting at the Novelda Velodrome and ending in Benissa.with seven scoring points that will continue to wear out riders and clarify the overall classification challenge. It’s okay if another sprint can be repeated this day.