In an exhilarating start to the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, Biniam Girmay celebrated a significant milestone by clinching his first victory in over a year during his debut with NSN Cycling. This thrilling opening stage was characterized by a nail-biting finish in a reduced bunch sprint, where Girmay edged out his competitors. Meanwhile, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe showcased their strength through a dynamic late attack led by Giulio Pellizzari, which kept spectators on the edge of their seats.
The day's events took a dramatic turn as Red Bull seized control in the later stages of the race, particularly on the Cat 3 climb of Puerto de los Madroños. With around 18 kilometers remaining, they launched Pellizzari ahead, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion.
How it all played out
The race kicked off with an early move by Mats Wenzel (Kern Pharma) and Diego Pablo Sevilla (Polta VisitMalta), who were soon joined by Danny van der Tuuk (Euskatel-Euskadi) and Lewis Adam (APS Pro Cycling by Team Cadence Cyclery). Despite a valiant effort from Hamish Armitt (Novo Nordisk) to bridge the gap, he ultimately fell back to the peloton as the breakaway group maintained a lead of just under three minutes for over 100 kilometers—a gap that seemed increasingly tenuous as the race went on.
The day's solitary categorized climb, the Cat 3 Puerto de los Madroños, located 32 kilometers from the finish, was always set to be a pivotal point in the race. The descent following this climb ignited a surge in pace within the main group. Van der Tuuk managed to secure the first bonus at the top of the climb, but as team cars sped by on the ascent, it became evident that the chase group was closing in rapidly. Soon after, Wenzel and Sevilla were caught, leaving the race’s dynamics shift dramatically.
By this juncture, Red Bull had clearly signaled their intent, splitting the field significantly on the Madroños climb. Only about 30 riders remained in the front group, featuring high-profile cyclists such as Evenepoel, Pellizzari, and previous Valenciana champion Aleksandr Vlasov. Notably absent were stars like João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek).
As Evenepoel snagged a time bonus right before the last two breakaway riders were reeled in, Pellizzari launched into a crucial late attack. This strategic move placed rival teams in a dilemma: should they pursue Pellizzari, thereby allowing Evenepoel, the top favorite, an easy ride towards overall victory, or should they hold back and risk losing ground to Pellizzari?
Ultimately, the decision was made to wait for more riders from the peloton, which swelled the chasing group from 30 to over 70. However, despite the flat terrain leading to the finish, catching Pellizzari proved to be a challenging task; he maintained a 30-second lead for longer than expected. Teams including Bahrain Victorious, Ineos Grenadiers, and NSN collaborated in the chase. It wasn’t until a thrilling pursuit along the coastline and through the streets of Torreblanco, with Red Bull employing some crafty blocking techniques, that Pellizzari was finally caught.
In the final sprint, Ineos' Ben Turner launched an impressive acceleration, but Girmay shadowed him closely, preparing for his move. His former teammate at Intermarché-Wanty, Marit, trailed closely behind, but was unable to surpass the Eritrean star. Marit later remarked to Eurosport, "Bini isn't the fastest off the line, but once he hits full speed, it's nearly impossible to overtake him." This observation proved accurate as Girmay secured the victory.
For NSN Cycling, this marked their second win of the season, adding to an already impressive start that included a stage victory at the Tour Down Under. However, as the competition intensifies starting Thursday, Girmay's time in the leader's position is likely to be brief.
Stage two will feature a crucial 17-kilometer rolling time trial from Carlet to Alginet, which is anticipated to be a key day for the general classification. Although the short distance suggests the time gaps may be minor, with Evenepoel in contention—and buoyed by Red Bull's recent successes in Mallorca and today's stage—one overarching question remains: how much of an advantage will the Belgian cyclist gain over his competitors as he eyes his third individual victory in less than a week?
Results
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Alasdair Fotheringham, a veteran cycling journalist since 1991, has reported on every Tour de France since 1992, except for one, and has covered various bike races, including the Olympics in 2008 and the now-defunct Subida a Urkiola hill climb in Spain. He contributes to Cyclingnews and has also written for major publications such as The Independent, The Guardian, ProCycling, The Express, and Reuters.
