Luka Mezgec returned exactly at the point where he left it last season, taking his second straight stage victory at the Tour of Beijing on Friday after he had concluded last year’s edition of the Chinese WorldTour event in the same fashion. Debuting in the Orica-GreenEDGE outfit Caleb Ewan took a runner-up spot, while Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Sharp) eventually has shown glimpses of good form, enough to finish third in a very fast and hectic bunch sprint.

Deprived of any lead-out, Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Sharp) launched a long sprint and was never so close to taking a victory this season. However, the American was passed by Luka Mezgec (Giant-Shimano) on the line, as well as by growing star of Australian cycling – Caleb Ewan, who celebrated his first official appearance in the Orica-Green-EDGE outfit with a runner-up spot on Friday.

Sacha Modolo (Lampre-Merida) and Nikolas Maes (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) completed the top 5 following a close and very dynamic sprinters’ battle.

Despite taking whole responsibility for pace setting during the stage, Team Sky eventually had no impact in the bunch sprint and missed out on a top 10, continuing their below-par performances throughout the whole 2014 season.

The last edition

The 2014 edition of the Tour of Beijing will be the last one, at least as a WorldTour event, and kicked off with a 167-kilometre long stage from Chong Li to Zhangjiakou.

135 riders from 17 WorldTour squads took the start of the event on Friday following Astana’s withdrawal, in a foggy and warm weather conditions typical for areas surrounding the Chinese capital city.

A sprinters stage

Friday’s lumpy stage was expected to end up in a bunch sprint and therefore there weren't really a battle for making it to the breakaway of the day. Tosh Van Der Sande (Lotto-Belisol), Jeremy Roy (FDJ.fr), and Julian Kern (Ag2r La Mondiale) were the three riders to attack, and they were never challenged by a second attempt.

First points rewarded

The gap quickly grew, and as they crossed the first intermediate sprint of the day, which Kern crossed in front of Van Der Sande and Roy, they were 6’00” in front of the peloton.

The first to KOMs of the day were both won by Van Der Sande in front of Roy and Kern, and after 50 km of racing they had extended their gap to 8.15.

78 km to go, the big gap was reduced to only 4 minutes, as Team Sky started to ride very hard in front of the peloton.

The third KOM was also won by Van Der Sande who will become the first mountain classification leader of the Tour of Beijing following Friday’s stage.

Team Sky in total control

Team Sky kept on setting a high pace in the peloton in the open farmlands when crosswinds started to make some riders struggle and temporarily caused splits in the peloton with 67 kilometers to go. Windy, difficult weather conditions have also worn down three escapees quickly and thus a cooperation in the breakaway started to falter. Their advantage came down to only 3’20” at this point.

Breakaway splits

Van der Sande experienced a mechanical at the 50-kilometre mark, shortly after passing a feed zone, and was reeled back by the peloton driven by joined forces of Team Sky, Cannondale and Lampre-Merida after he hadn’t managed to make it back to his two companions.

Roy battles hard

The  two-man breakaway contested the final intermediate sprint of the day at the 43-kilometre mark, where Roy outsprinted Kern fairly easy. The small gap created by his acceleration left Kern dangling behind and giving up the work so Roy is now alone in front. The FDJ rider immediately made a use of a small gap to get rid of his companion.

Behind, Philippe Gilbert (BMC) took the last bonus second in the sprint by attacking 500 meters before the line.

All comes together

Roy has shown a real determination, staying at the front for next 20 kilometers, battling hard his own fatigue and difficult windy conditions. The FDJ rider was eventually reeled back 19 kilometers from the finish line, but his efforts were rewarded by the race organizers who named him the most aggressive rider of the day.

From that point, Team Sky continued their tireless work at the front and there were no more attempts to attack as Friday’s stage had a bunch sprint scenario written all over it.

With 5 kilometers to go, Lotto-Belisol and Giant-Shimano built their lead-out trains and started to fight with the leading British team for the best position at the front of the peloton.

Movistar riders unsuccessfully tried to wreak havoc in the peloton with 3 kilometers to go, while Orica-Green temporarily hit the front before losing a momentum under the flamme rouge.

Deprived of any lead-out, Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Sharp) launched a long sprint and was never so close to taking a victory this season. However, the American was passed by Luka Mezgec (Giant-Shimano) on the line, as well as by growing star of Australian cycling – Caleb Ewan, who celebrated his first official appearance in the Orica-Green-EDGE outfit with a runner-up spot on Friday.

Sacha Modolo (Lampre-Merida) and Nikolas Maes (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) completed the top 5 following a close and very dynamic sprinters’ battle.

The 2014 Tour of Beijing stage 1 results:

1. Luka Mezgec (Giant-Shimano)

2. Caleb Ewan (Orica-GreenEDGE)

3. Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Sharp)

4. Sasha Modolo (Lampre-Merida)

5. Nikolas Maes (Omega Pharma – Quick Step)

6. Moreno Hofland (Belkin Pro Cycling)

7. Steele Von Hoff (Garmin-Sharp)

8. Boy Van Poppel (Trek Factory Racing)

9. Davide Appollonio (Ag2r La Mondiale)

10. Olivier Le Gac (FDJ.fr)