The breakaway formed early, featuring fifth-placed Jakub Otruba (Caja Rural – Seguros RGA), Sinuhé Fernández (Buros Bupellet BH), Danny Van de Tuuk (Euskaltel Euskadi), Joaquim Silva (Efapel Cycling) and Tomas Contte (Aviludo-Louletano-Loule). They were later joined by Ruben Rodrigues (Feira dos Sofás – Boavista), Hugo Nunes (Credibom – LA Alumios – Marcos Car) and Hubert Lamothe (Meridian Racing p/b de la Uz). The breakaway riders built up to a four-minute lead at the start of a frantic stage, averaging 50.1 km/h in the first hour of racing.
At the third-category climb of A Gañidoira, Tomas Contte crested first, with Sinuhé Fernández and David Silva in second and third place respectively. The race was flying, beating even the most optimistic time schedules, while in the peloton a chasing pace gradually reduced the gap to the breakaway. With 20 km to go, only Jakub Otruba remained out front. On the final ramps of the stage, Movistar Team took control, with Iván Romeo tasked with neutralizing any attacks and selecting the lead group, where the main casualty was the race leader until that point, Julius Johansen (UAE Team Emirates XRG). With Nelson Oliveira and Iván Romeo at the head of the group, it was reduced to 25 riders, notably including Rafa Reis (Anicolor/Campicarn), who would ultimately take the yellow jersey. Burgos Burpellet BH worked to set up the sprint on the approach to the beaches of Barreiros, but Carlos Canal from Ourense launched a long-range sprint to take victory after chasing it in every edition of the race.
Carlos Canal stepped onto the podium as stage winner, with Mats Wenzel (Kern Pharma) and Eric Fagúndez (Burgos Bupellet BH) finishing second and third. In the general classification, Rafa Reis (Anicolor/Campicarn) is the new leader, with compatriot Nelson Oliveira (Movistar Team) just 1 second behind and Norwegian rider Jurgen Nordhagen (Visma Lease a Bike) in third place, 12 seconds down. Tomorrow will see the third stage, starting in Carballo and finishing in Padrón.
Carlos Canal: “I had dreamed of this since I started cycling. Winning my home race is something I’ve dreamed about since I began in cycling. I came every year, often coming close. Finally, this victory has arrived. Nelson Oliveira and Iván Romeo gave everything, shutting down attacks, and I knew they had left it all out there. As the road was uphill, I launched from far out because I believed I could hold the sprint”.
Rafa Reis: “I’m very happy to take the yellow jersey here. It’s a race with a short history, but it has been won by great cyclists. I’m very happy to be in yellow”.
