Boudat wins stage 1 at the Ruta del Sol

Thomas Boudat (Direct Energie) snatched victory and took the first leader's jersey at the Vuelta a Andalucia-Ruta Ciclista Del Sol thanks to a late bike-throw at the line that left Sacha Modolo (EF Education First-Drapac) red-faced after he had prematurely raised his arms in victory.

EF Education First-Drapac led out the sprint for Modolo with three riders, and when he kicked hard with 150 metres to go, he looked set to win in the middle of the road. Boudat, however, is a former Omnium world champion, and used his track speed to make a late, determined charge to the line. Modolo put his arms up as he hit the line but the photo finish showed that Boudat had nipped past him at the death and won the stage.

Clement Venturini (AG2R La Mondiale) was third ahead of Andrea Pasqualon (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) and Tosh Van Der Sande (Lotto Soudal).

While no time bonuses are awarded at the Ruta del Sol, Boudat is the first race leader thanks to his victory and he will wear the leader's red jersey on stage 2.

Froome back in the peloton

Before the riders rolled out at the start in Mijas, the Ruta del Sol was all about Chris Froome (Team Sky) and his first comments in public about his salbutamol case since the news broke in December. After he shared his thoughts with the waiting media, the four-time Tour de France winner lined up with former teammate Mikel Landa (Movistar) at the front of the peloton and led the race away from the start.

The first break of the day formed after just a few kilometres, with Silvan Dillier (AG2R-La Mondiale), Romain Sicard (Direct Energie), Luis Guillermo Mas Bonet (Caja Rural–Seguros), Garikoitz Bravo (Euskadi Basque Country), Txomin Juaristi (Fundacion Euskadi) convinced of their chances.

The peloton let them gain a lead of 5:00 but the Astana team eventually took up responsibility for the chase, with Team Sky also helping with the workload on the succession of hills in the second half of the route.

The gap fell dramatically in the finale as Astana – and Michael Valgren in particular – piled on the pressure, and it was down to just 25 seconds with 20km to race to the finish in central Granada.

Dillier tried a solo attack but was caught with 14km to go. Jon Ander Insausti (Fundacion Euskadi) and Pablo Torres (Burgos – BH) also tried their luck but the sprinters and their teams could smell victory and the race was all together going into the long tunnel that brought the race into Granada.

EF Education First-Drapac had strength in depth and the apparent speed to lead out Modolo. The Italian opened up his sprint in his tucked, swaying position and looked to have established a winning lead, but Boudat kicked hard and fast in sight of the line and snatched victory.

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