Dorian Godon Claims Victory at Volta a Catalunya Opening Stage
Sant Feliu de Guíxols, Spain – March 23, 2026 – Dorian Godon of Ineos Grenadiers secured the first leader’s jersey of the 105th edition of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, winning the opening stage in a thrilling sprint finish. The French champion outpaced Belgian Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) and Briton Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling) after a challenging 172.7-kilometer route.
Stage Recap
The first stage of the 2026 Volta Catalunya commenced in Sant Feliu de Guíxols, featuring climbs of Alt de Romanyà (3rd category) and Alt de Sant Hilari Sacalm (1st category) before a demanding finish on the Tossa de Mar road and Carretera de Girona.
A breakaway group consisting of Baptiste Veistroffer (Lotto-Intermarché), Hugo Aznar (Equipo Kern Pharma), Unai Aznar (Euskaltel-Euskadi), and Josh-Burnet Tyler Stites (Modern Adventure Pro Cycling) attempted to establish a lead, but were unable to gain more than a four-minute advantage. Teams including NSN Cycling Team, Bahrain Victorious, and Ineos Grenadiers worked collaboratively to reel in the breakaway.
Josh Burnett (Burgos-Burpellet-BH) launched a solo attack 11 kilometers from the finish line, but was ultimately caught by UAE Team Emirates-XRG, who set a quick pace towards Tossa de Mar. The intensified pace set the stage for a dramatic sprint finish.
In the final kilometers, riders such as Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma-Lease en Bike) positioned themselves to control the race, but it was Dorian Godon who emerged victorious in a long sprint against the main contenders for the overall Volta victory.
Godon’s Recent Successes
This victory comes on the heels of a successful period for Godon, including a stage win at Paris-Nice earlier in the month. Dorian Godon has demonstrated consistent performance, with victories in Brabantse-Pijl and Giro del Veneto in 2023, and multiple stage wins throughout his career.
Looking Ahead
The Volta a Catalunya continues on Tuesday, March 24th, with a 167.4-kilometer second stage from Figueres to Banyoles, offering opportunities for sprinters to contend for the stage win.
Worth a look