John Degenkolb has sprinted to 11th place after being affected by a large crash that saw several Team Giant-Alpecin riders come down in the final kilometres of the morning stage on the opening day of the Ruta del Sol.

Both Degenkolb and the team had ear-marked this opening stage as a good opportunity to go for a strong result in a bunch sprint but their attempts were derailed by the chaos that unfolded in the final stages of the race.

The stage was all under control for most of the day with four escapees out front enjoying a handful of minutes’ lead over the bunch for most of the day. Their advantage was gradually reeled in, with help from Caleb Fairly riding strongly on the front of the bunch, as the race headed towards the final stages and with 20km to go the peloton was all back together heading for a likely bunch sprint.

The team were coming up into position with around seven kilometres to go when the first problems hit, with four of the team hitting the deck in the first of two crashes. Simon Geschke, Koen De Kort, Tobias Ludvigsson and Daan Olivier all came down when moving up as a group.

The peloton powered on ahead but inside the final five kilometres another big crash occurred which split the peloton in two. Degenkolb and Johannes Fröhlinger managed to avoid the pile-up but Degenkolb was fighting for whatever he could salvage and he eventually came across the line in 11th, with the stage honours going to Pim Ligthart (Lotto-Soudal).

All of the team’s riders who crashed were able to carry on and finish, but Ludvigsson came off worst with a wrist injury, and will receive further checks and tests over the course of the day.

After the stage, Koen De Kort added: “Four of us came down just before the big one when a rider took out Daan’s front wheel. As we were together there three of us couldn’t avoid it and piled over the top. Caleb had been on the front all day and came past and also stopped with us there, so only Johannes and John were left in front.

“They managed to avoid the big crash but it was chaos. It’s a shame as I was feeling very good actually and was looking forward to a nice lead-out. There will be another day.”

Coach Christian Guiberteau added: “Daan and Tobias were the worst hit of the four, with Daan hurting his ribs and Tobias his wrist. Fortunately Daan hasn’t broken anything and has the all clear to carry on. Tobias we will see – he has some pain in his wrist and he will receive further checks from the race doctor and the team physicians to asses if he has done any damage.”