After a textbook lead-out and a perfectly-timed sprint, Fernando Gaviria won the first ever stage of Colombia Oro y Paz and donned three distinctive jerseys.
Two weeks after crashing out of Vuelta a San Juan stage 4, Gaviria showed he’s made a full recovery after the injuries he picked up in Argentina, on a fast and hectic day, which had everything – from a five-men breakaway that stayed at the front for the most part of the stage to a late crash which occurred before the final three kilometers.
Nairo Quintana went down and swapped bikes with his brother Dayer to made it back to the bunch just in time.
Maximiliano Richeze and Alvaro Hodeg split the bunch with one kilometer to go, riding almost everyone off their wheel and leaving Gaviria in a perfect position.
The Colombian took a comfortable win in Palmira, beating fellow countryman Sebastian Molano (Manzana Postobon), with teammate Maximiliano Richeze coming across the line in third.
“It’s special to be here, in my home country. The public was so warm and gave us an amazing welcome, not only today, but ever since the team has arrived here. I am happy that such a race is organized in Colombia, and even happier that I won, because taking a victory here is completely different than taking one in Europe”, said Gaviria.
Colombia Oro y Paz 2018 – stage 1 results (Palmira – Palmira):
| 1 | Fernando Gaviria (Quick-Step Floors) | 2:07:05 |
| 2 | Juan Sebastian Molano (Manzana Postobon) | ,, |
| 3 | Maximiliano Richeze (Quick-Step Floors) | ,, |
| 4 | Matteo Malucelli (Androni-Sidermec-Bottecchia) | ,, |
| 5 | Alvaro Hodeg (Quick-Step Floors) | ,, |
| 6 | Andrea Guardini (Bardiani-CSF) | ,, |
| 7 | Pawel Franczak (CCC Sprandi Polkowice) | ,, |
| 8 | Davide Vigano (Italy) | ,, |
| 9 | Manuel Peñalver Aniorte (Trevigiani Phonix-Hemus 1896) | ,, |
| 10 | Miguel Bryon (Holowesko-Citadel) | ,, |
