An eight-second split over almost all race favourites was the first small gain for Ion Izagirre (Movistar Team) on Sunday during the opener of the 72nd Tour de Pologne. The Basque rider, GC podium finisher in the last two editions of the race, finished in 10th place after a city course in Warsaw, over ten laps and a total 122km, following good teamwork from the Blues.

Attentive in the laps before the closing sprint - won by first race leader Marcel Kittel (TGA) - the Movistar Team did not fight for the stage win -their main sprinter Juanjo Lobato also pulled on the front in the final lap - but did take care of Izagirre, who came across the line just behind local hero and world champion Michal Kwiatkowski (EQS). A leading 30-man split only included Formolo (TCG), Paterski (CCC) and Kiserlovski (TCS) among the possible GC contenders.

The Polish event will head into its only long transfer tomorrow towards the south of the country, with three more flat stages - starting with Monday’s 146km ride from Czestochowa to Dabrowa Gornicza - coming up before the Tatr mountains on Thursday and Friday.