The Continental Grand Tour begins! First four stages are for the sprinters. No KOM points today so all the focus in on the sprint.
Labrosse was the first attacker today, but neither nor anyone else made it far. The sprinters wanted the early intermediate points. Tivani wins the sprint ahead of Barbari. The other points go to Kelly, Marin and Hayakawa.
The pace has slowed down now and two riders are in the breakaway. Bruttomesso and Morang.
The peloton sped up again to catch the breakaway before the intermediate sprint. Kelly wins it by a margin ahead of Ruiz and Tivani. The minor points go to Russo and Marin.
Trains are prepared as we go into the last 5 km. From left to right we have:
Brandt for Kelly
Air New Zealand for Barbari
WindGuard for Russo followed by Losch
Fincantieri for Hayakawa
IncaLine for Tivani followed by Marin
Simba Cement for Sureda
WindGuard were at the front, but the strongest leadouts are Baterdene and Alaphilippe. Once two opened up their legs everyone else abandoned their trains and jumped on Tivani's and Sureda's wheel.
With 700 m to go the leadouts are still in front. Hayakawa was brought to the front by Fiorelli.
And it's the Fincantieri leadout that looks to have been the best executed. Can Hayakawa finish off the sprint from this great position?
Yes he does! Great start to the race by Fincantieri. Prieto is the surprise package here, following the wheels to finish in 2nd place with Tivani completing the podium.
Tomohiro Hayakawa wins the stage and with that leads the GC and points classification ahead of Tivani. Prieto is in the U25 jersey.
Vuelta al Tachira - Stage 1 
