Danny van Poppel has won the first stage of the 2018 Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana. Luka Mezgec (Mitchelton-Scott) was second, and Jurgen Roelandts (BMC Racing) was third in Peñiscola.
After what had been a relatively straightforward 191.4-kilometre test the action came to a head in Peniscola, with Ganni Moscon (Team Sky) launching a surprise attack with two kilometres to go.
A crash behind caused momentary confusion in the peloton and it was only the lead-out train of LottoNL-Jumbo that eventually hauled back the Italian inside the final kilometre.
Even though he launched his sprint early, Danny van Poppel (LottoNL-Jumbo) claimed the opening stage victory and moved into an early race lead.
https://youtu.be/UHsfZ0SQIuE?t=1663
Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 2018 – stage 1 results (Oropesa El Mar – Peñiscola):
| 1 | Danny van Poppel (LottoNL-Jumbo) | 4:34:13 |
| 2 | Luka Mezgec (Mitchelton-Scott) | ,, |
| 3 | Jurgen Roelandts (BMC) | ,, |
| 4 | Daniel McLay (EF Education First-Drapac) | ,, |
| 5 | Clement Venturini (AG2R La Mondiale) | ,, |
| 6 | Hugo Hofstetter (Cofidis) | ,, |
| 7 | Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky) | ,, |
| 8 | Oliver Naesen (AG2R La Mondiale) | ,, |
| 9 | Marco Canola (Nippo-Vini Fantini-Europa Ovini) | ,, |
| 10 | Angelo Tulik (Direct Energie) | ,, |
