Italian cyclist Alessandro Tonelli, riding for VF Group Bardiani-CSF Faizanè, emerged as the first leader of the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana after a demanding stage that stretched beyond 130 kilometers. Teammate Manuele Tarozzi joined him in the effort, and together they distanced their rivals on the sprint through Castellón, crowning Tonelli with the early leader’s jersey on the desert roads of the race. Their decisive move came in the final kilometers, sealing a notable result for the Italian continental squad.
With an unofficial time of 4 hours, 4 minutes, and 34 seconds, Tonelli edged Tarozzi by a small margin, signaling a productive outset for the Italian team. The two riders crossed the line almost a minute and eight seconds ahead of the rest of the seven-man breakaway. The escape had already started with 133 kilometers to go when five cyclists briefly opened a gap from the peloton; moments later, two more compatriots joined, creating a substantial lead. The group consisted of Tonelli and Tarozzi alongside other riders from the same nation, including Spaniards Gorka Sorarrain, Francisco Muñoz, Iñigo Elosegui, and Dutchman Jetse Bol and Alex Molenaar, all tipping the scales in favor of a bold, early attack. At that point, the race distance stood at roughly 166 kilometers for the stage portion between Benicàssim and Castellón.
As the leading duo trusted the plan, the situation evolved with every kilometer. The escapees quickly widened the gap on the peloton, while Euskaltel-Euskadi attempted to pull back the margin despite not having a clear group strength behind them. The narrative of the day became one of disciplined patience as the main peloton gradually narrowed the lead, striving to reclaim control before the final crest. The pursuit faced a tougher challenge because the fugitives were able to capitalize on every opportunity, turning late descents and long straights into a sprint-like final phase that would determine the stage winner.
Approaching Castellón, the race remained tightly contested. The riders navigated toward the city streets with speed, leveraging the descending miles and the straightaways that followed to push their limits. An unusual moment occurred when a misstep at a roundabout briefly blocked the exit, causing a brief hold-up, yet neither Tonelli nor Tarozzi faltered. They regrouped swiftly and continued their push toward the finish line, driven by a shared determination to secure a stage win for their team.
In the end, Tonelli crossed the line ahead of Tarozzi, delivering a victory for the Italian pair. Tarozzi earned the stage second place, marking a strong day for the teammates and establishing Bardiani-CSF Faizanè as a force on the opening day of the Volta. The victory also highlighted the tactical cohesion and endurance of the Italian squad as the race commenced.
Thursday, Canals-Valldigna
On Thursday, the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana continues with the second phase, setting the course to enter the province of Alicante and intensifying the competition as teams jockey for position before the next critical juncture of the race.