A three-rider breakaway shocked the peloton at 191.1km Volta Ciclista a Catalunya on Monday, earning a max advantage of 13 minutes and crossing the line 2'40" ahead of the field.
Maciej Paterski (CCC Sprandi Polkowice) won the race out of the trio, after Bart De Clerq (Lotto Soudal) launched the sprint first in the final few hundred meters, and Pierre Rolland (Europcar) countered from 3rd wheel. Rolland was 2nd and De Clerq 3rd.
Etixx - Quick-Step helped contribute to the chase with several other teams, Julian Alaphilippe finished 5th out of the sprinting field behind the three who decided the stage.
Etixx - Quick-Step looks next to 195km Stage 2 on Tuesday.
Julian Alaphilippe 