Stage one of the Tour of Catalunya was predicted to end up as a sprint finish, but Sir Bradley Wiggins decided to set the race alight by attacking on the descent into Calella. Having seemingly been hidden away since the start of the racing season, whilst other big-name riders have been making their mark in some major races, most notably Vincenzo Nibali in the Tirreno-Adriatico, it was good to see that Wiggo has the determination to lead from the front.
Everyone has become familiar with Team Sky's way of working, with all the Sky riders strung out in a row, keeping their team leader protected at the back. They set the pace and it is for other teams to follow. However, it seems that there are occasions when Team Sky will take advantage of a situation and not necessarily follow their usual predictable pattern.
Perhaps it is the case that after having not raced for awhile, Wiggo has a point to prove. He looked comfortable on the descent and he had two more-than-capable teammates with him, Dario Cataldo and David López. By pushing the pace on, Wiggo managed to split the group and, although he didn't win the sprint or gain any time bonuses, he definitely proved to the other GC contenders that he has got some form.
Wiggo has actually managed to sprint to victory in the past, but of the 13 riders who were ahead, it was almost inevitable that Gianni Meersman was going to take the stage victory. Most of the other GC contenders had managed to make it into the Wiggo group, including Alejandro Valverde, Joaquim Rodriguez, Robert Gesink, Dan Martin and Michele Scarponi and they finished with a 28 second advantage over the peloton. After his aggression on the descent, Wiggo went on to claim sixth place, although ultimately it looks as though his main objective is overall victory.
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