Edvald Boasson Hagen wins opening time trial in Volta a la Communitat Valenciana stage one

Reigning Tour de France champion Geraint Thomas finished just outside the top-10

Edvald Boasson Hagen takes stage one of the Volta a Valenciana (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The opening time trial of the Volta a Valenciana went to Edvald Boasson Hagen, who bested both climbers and time trial specialists to take the race lead.

Boasson Hagen took five seconds out of his nearest rival Ion Izagirre (Astana) on a course just 10km long, making a statement as the Dimension Data rider looks ahead to the Classics.

Reigning Tour de France champion Geraint Thomas made his return to racing, finishing just outside the top 10 in 13th with fellow Brit Harry Tanfield in 12th.

>>> Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana start list: Geraint Thomas and Alejandro Valverde amongst strong roster

Tanfield leads the youth classification.

Stage one of the week-long race was a short and fast course starting and finishing in the town of Orihuela.

After a flat 5km dash out from the town, the course ramped up into a 0.8km-long climb averaging 10 per cent, making it an unpredictable parcours.

The hot seat changed hands at rapid pace, with early benchmarks being set by Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain-Merida), Diego Rosa (Team Sky) and Jos Van Emden (Jumbo-Visma).

But it was Norwegian time trial champion Boasson Hagen who was able to power himself into the lead, setting a time of 12-55.

Izagirre was rider closest to toppling the 31-year-old, falling five seconds short – a substantial margin on such a short course.

German TT champion and former world title holder in the discipline Tony Martin was strong on the course, coming in third at seven seconds down on the winner.

Welshman Thomas, the current British TT champion, looked good during his ride having not raced since the Tour on Britain last September.

>>> Chris Froome joined by young Colombian fan on training ride

Thomas finished 13th, 21 seconds down on his former team-mate Boasson Hagen.

Katusha-Alpecin’s Harry Tanfield was one place ahead, also 21 seconds down, in his first time trial with a WorldTour team.

The 2018 winner and road world champion Alejandro Valverde was characteristically strong, finishing eighth at 14 seconds down.

Volta a Valenciana continues with a 166km loop starting and finishing in Alicante on stage two.

Result

Volta a Valenciana 2019 stage one: Orihuela - Orihuela (10.2km)

1. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) Dimension Data, in 12-55

2. Ion Izagirre (ESP) Astana, at 5 secs

3. Tony Martin (GER) Jumbo-Visma, at 7 secs

4. Dylan Teuns (BEL) Bahrain-Merida, at 8 secs

5. Jos Van Emden (NED) Jumbo-Visma, at 10 secs

6. Nelson Oliveira (POR) Movisar, at 11 secs

7. Pello Bilbao (ESP) Astana, at 13 secs

8. Alejandro Valverde (ESP) Movistar, at 14 secs

9. Jan Tratnik (SLO) Bahrain-Merida, at 19 secs

10. Dan Martin (IRL) UAE Team Emirates, at 20 secs

Others

12. Harry Tanfield (GBR) Katusha-Alpecin, at 21 secs

13. Geraint Thomas (GBR) Team Sky

General classification after stage one

1. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) Dimension Data, in 12-55

2. Ion Izagirre (ESP) Astana, at 5 secs

3. Tony Martin (GER) Jumbo-Visma, at 7 secs

4. Dylan Teuns (BEL) Bahrain-Merida, at 8 secs

5. Jos Van Emden (NED) Jumbo-Visma, at 10 secs

6. Nelson Oliveira (POR) Movisar, at 11 secs

7. Pello Bilbao (ESP) Astana, at 13 secs

8. Alejandro Valverde (ESP) Movistar, at 14 secs

9. Jan Tratnik (SLO) Bahrain-Merida, at 19 secs

10. Dan Martin (IRL) UAE Team Emirates, at 20 secs

Others

12. Harry Tanfield (GBR) Katusha-Alpecin, at 21 secs

13. Geraint Thomas (GBR) Team Sky

Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Alex Ballinger

Alex Ballinger is editor of BikeBiz magazine, the leading publication for the UK cycle industry, and is the former digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter, then as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output, and now as the editor of BikeBiz. Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) Alex covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers.  Away from the desk, Alex can be found racing time trials, riding BMX and mountain bikes, or exploring off-road on his gravel bike. He’s also an avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.