Tour of Catalonia 2024: Israel-Premier Tech outwits Pogacar: Schultz wins opening stage

Heavily decimated by the many climbs of stage 1, the peloton entered the final kilometres. Three kilometres before the finish, it was Team Israel-Premier Tech that took the lead of the peloton and was in front when they arrived at the finish in Sant Feliu de Guixols. After several technical corners, Nick Schultz then broke away, leaving a clear gap on the peloton for the final uphill metres. The favourite Tadej Pogacar responded too late: the Slovenian came out of the turmoil shortly before the finish to catch Schultz. The Australian finished just ahead of Pogacar, who in the end was less than half a bike length away from taking the day's victory. Schultz's team-mate Stephen Williams finished in third place. It was a tactical masterstroke by the Israeli team.

Schultz capitalises on the competition's hesitation

Just 1.1 kilometres before the finish, Schultz, who had been in second position behind his team-mate Stephen William, broke away to open up a gap to the rest of the field. The Australian succeeded in doing so - the riders behind him looked around. Nobody wanted to close the gap to the leading rider in the wind. It wasn't until 500 metres before the finish that Sergio Higuita (Bora-Hansgrohe) got out of the saddle and took up the chase. A short time later, Tadej Pogacar tried to counterattack, exploding once again in the final 300 metres. However, the Slovenian crossed the finish line just a few metres too early, allowing Schultz to finish with a narrow lead. Schultz's rider Stephen Williams also put in a tactically clever performance in the final kilometres and was the only one who was able to match Pogacar's attack. The winner of the 2024 Tour Down Under finished third.

"It's the biggest victory of my career. On the last kilometre, Williams shouted to me that I should keep going. I continued at full throttle. I thought it was all about keeping up the pace. The last 500 metres felt like an eternity. The win is great for me and the team." - Nick Schultz in the winner interview

>> The results of the Tour of Catalonia at a glance

Tour of Catalonia 2024: Results - the top 10 of stage 1

1. Nick Schultz (Israel-Premier Tech) 4:11:38
2. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) +0:00
3. Stephen Williams (Israel-Premier Tech) +0:00
4. Dorian Godon (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) +0:02
5. Axel Laurance (Alpecin-Deceuninck) +0:02
6. Remy Rochas (Groupama-FDJ) +0:02
7. Ilan Van Wilder (Soudal - Quick Step) +0:02
8. Aleksandr Vlasov (Bora-Hansgrohe) +0:02
9. Sepp Kuss (Visma | Lease a Bike) +0:02
10. Harold Tejada (Astana Qazaqstan Team) +0:02

The current standings in the overall standings

1. Nick Schultz (Israel-Premier Tech) 4:11:28
2. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) +0:02
3. Stephen Williams (Israel-Premier Tech) +0:06
4. Laurens De Plus (Ineos Grenadiers) +0:09
5. Dorian Godon (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) +0:10
6. Axel Laurance (Alpecin-Deceuninck) +0:10
7. Remy Rochas (Groupama-FDJ) +0:10
8. Ilan van Wilder (Soudal - Quick Step) +0:10
9. Aleksandr Vlasov (Bora-Hansgrohe) +0:10
10. Sepp Kuss (Visma | Lease a Bike) +0:10

>> The favourites for the Tour of Catalonia 2024

>> Everything you need to know about the Tour of Catalonia 2024

This is how the 1st stage of the Tour of Catalonia 2024 went

Shortly after the start of the race, five riders led by the German Johannes Adamietz (Lotto-Dstny) tried to get away. However, the Intermarche-Wanty team did not really agree with the constellation of the breakaway group and caught the riders again after a few kilometres. A short time later, five other riders managed to break away from the peloton: First it was Mikel Bizkarra (Euskaltel - Euskadi) and Alex Baudin (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), who were then joined by Simone Petilli (Intermarche-Wanty), Kenny Elissonde (Cofidis) and Adne Holter (Uno-X Mobility).

UAE Team Emirates keeps up the pace

The escapees quickly extended their lead to almost three minutes, but then the cushion melted more and more. UAE Team Emirates in particular took care of the chase in the peloton and kept the day's leading group on a tight leash. Early on in the race, the breakaway's chances of winning the day were slim.

After Elissonde secured the mountains jersey for the next day, UAE Team Emirates got serious and caught up with the escapees 33 kilometres from the finish. No rider dared to attack on the subsequent Alt de Sant Grau, but on the descent and shortly afterwards there were tentative breakaway attempts by Mauri Vansevenant (Soudal - Quick Step) and Lilian Calmejane (Intermarche-Wanty), which were easily parried by the routinely controlling UAE Team Emirates.

Two Israel Premier Tech riders finish on the podium

On the final descent into the finish town of Sant Feliu de Guixols, the two Israel Premier Tech riders Stephen Williams and Nick Schultz took the lead. Their tactics were excellent, with Schultz taking the stage win as the breakaway leader and Williams finishing third. Tadej Pogacar launched his counter-attack too late and finished second.