2012 Volta Ciclista a Catalunya - Stage 1
GreenEdge's Michael Albasini claimed the overall lead at stage 1 of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya after attacking his breakaway companions and soloing to the finish. Anthony Delaplace and Nicolas Edet round out podium.

GreenEdge Cycling continued their debut season success today after their Swiss rider, Michael Albasini attacked his breakaway companions and soloed to the finish. Albasini claimed victory finishing forty-two seconds ahead of Saur-Sojasun's Anthony Delaplace and one minute, fourteen seconds ahead of Nicolas Edet from Cofidis. Albasini will start stage two in the overall leader's jersey.

Among the stage favorites today were Luxembourger Andy Schleck (RadioShack-Nissan), Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), who recently returned from a two year suspension, and Team Sky's Bradley Wiggins. All three men remained in the peloton for the whole 139 kilometer stage.

Instead of the top favorites winning the stage, it was the breakaway, which included Nicolas Edet (Cofidis), Timothy Duggan (Liquigas-Cannondale), Anthony Delaplace (Saur Sojasun), Ben Gastauer (AG2R La Mondiale) and Michael Albasini, who managed to stay away until the end. The five men built up a maximum advantage of six minutes, and five seconds.

On the final descent, Michael Albasini took advantage of the dry roads and clear skies and raised the pace. The leading group of five began to come apart and with just six kilometers of racing left to do Albasini had a forty-two second gap over Anthony Delaplace.

Tomorrow brings stage 2 of the 2012 Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, a 161 kilometer stage that both begins and finishes in Girona, Spain.

Results
1 Michael Albasini GreenEdge Cycling Team 3:20:04
2 Anthony Delaplace Saur - Sojasun @ 0:00:42
3 Nicolas Edet Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne @ 0:01:14
4 Kenny Robert Van Hummel Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team @ 0:01:32
5 Ben Gastauer AG2R La Mondiale @ 0:01:32
6 Roger Kluge Project 1t4i @ 0:01:32
7 Allan Davis GreenEdge Cycling Team @ 0:01:32
8 Fabio Sabatini Liquigas-Cannondale @ 0:01:32
9 Davide Appollonio Sky Procycling @ 0:01:32
10 Francesco Gavazzi Pro Team Astana @ 0:01:32
11 Luke Roberts Team Saxo Bank @ 0:01:32
12 Manuele Mori Lampre - ISD @ 0:01:32
13 Stéphane Poulhies Saur - Sojasun @ 0:01:32
14 José Luis Cano Andalucia @ 0:01:32
15 Aitor Galdos Caja Rural @ 0:01:32
16 Samuel Dumoulin Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne @ 0:01:32
17 Nicolas Roche AG2R La Mondiale @ 0:01:32
18 Kenny De Haes Lotto Belisol Team @ 0:01:32
19 Marco Bandiera Omega Pharma - QuickStep @ 0:01:32
20 Michal Golas Omega Pharma - QuickStep @ 0:01:32
21 Steve Morabito BMC Racing Team @ 0:01:32
22 Mikael Cherel AG2R La Mondiale @ 0:01:32
23 Daryl Impey GreenEdge Cycling Team @ 0:01:32
24 Timofey Kritskiy Katusha Team @ 0:01:32
25 André Fernando Santos Martins Cardoso Caja Rural @ 0:01:32
26 Fumiyuki Beppu GreenEdge Cycling Team @ 0:01:32
27 Sébastien Minard AG2R La Mondiale @ 0:01:32
28 Timothy Duggan Liquigas-Cannondale @ 0:01:32
29 Gatis Smukulis Katusha Team @ 0:01:32
30 Luis Leon Sanchez Rabobank Cycling Team @ 0:01:32