Barnes wins opening stage at Setmana Ciclista Valenciana

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Hannah Barnes (Canyon-SRAM) won the opening stage of the Setmana Ciclista Valenciana in Gandia on Thursday. Despite being caught in the final kilometre, breakaway rider Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (Cervelo Bigla) finished second on the day and Marta Bastianelli (Ale Cipollini) was third.

Canyon-SRAM played their tactics well, keeping Barnes fresh and ready to sprint, while teammate Kasia Niewiadoma played her card on the final climb. Niewiadoma got away with Moolman-Pasio over Alto de Barx but the pair were caught on the run-in to the finish line.

"We were in a small chase group behind Kasia but our team had good numbers. Shara Gillow (FDJ) was trying to go across but we always were able to cover any moves," said Barnes after the stage.

"As riders from behind caught our group and it swelled in numbers, then there was a more organised chase. Alena (Amialiusik), Pauline (Ferrand-Prévot) and I agreed that if Kasia was caught then we would immediately start to attack."

The opening stage of 118km from Rotova to Gandia was a test for the climbers in the field, for later more decisive hilly stages. There were two intermediate sprints, both won by Tanja Erath (Canyon-SRAM) and there were two climbs in the second half of the stage; Alto de Barxeta (6.2km at 3.1%) and the Alto de Barx (6km at 5.6%).

Moolman-Pasio, in her first race of the season, picked up the first set of points on the Also de Barxeta, perhaps a sign of what was to come on the final ascent.

A small group formed over the top with Moolman-Pasio's teammate Lotta Lepistö, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Canyon-SRAM), Shara Gillow (FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope) and Mavi Garcia (Movistar).

The peloton caught the four riders at the base of the Alto de Barx. Ferrand-Prévot ultimately set up teammate Niewiadoma to launch an attack. She was quickly followed by Moolman-Pasio.

The two powerful climbers traded pulls up over the top, Moolman-Pasio taking the points, and they descended into the final 14km of the stage together with 30 seconds and in anticipation of a two-up sprint in Gandia. But the reduced peloton barrelled down into finishing city catching the pair in the final kilometre and setting up for a group sprint.

"I thought that was it for the day because we had quite a big gap, we thought we had 30 seconds then suddenly the group came from behind and I had to think fast and hold position," Moolman-Pasio said. "I managed to get second in the sprint and am happy with that. It was a good start. Obviously, we don’t have the leader's jersey but we’re not far off either so we will keep fighting."

The racing will continue on Friday for stage 2 from Castello to Vila-Real, and climb the Desert of Les Palmes (7.5km at 5.1 per cent).

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