To everyone a bunch sprint seemed to be on the cards for the opening stage of the Volta a Catalunya yesterday but the Sky team surely had a surprise up their short sleeves for the opposition as they pushed the pace on the final climb and continued the momentum on the descent.

The riders at the front near the summit of the final Category-three Alt de Collsacreu climb were rewarded as the British team hurled themselves down into the finishing town of Calella.

A small select group darted to the line and though Gianni Meersman (Omega Pharma - Quick-Step) took his first win of the season, the resulting time differences also constituted a small victory for the likes of pre-race favourites Joaquím Rodriguez (Katusha), Bradley Wiggins (Sky), Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), Robert Gesink (Blanco), Daniel Martin (Garmin Sharp) and Michele Scarponi (Lampre) who have already established a significant edge over the remaining GC rivals.

Rodríguez was as surprised as everyone else about the way the stage developed, "We did not expect the race to break up on the descent and with such large time differences. There was even talk of a sprint finish, but I knew it was harder than that," said Rodríguez on biciclismo.com.

"I will fight to win the tour. The feeling is good and I am here as a favourite. I will put up a great fight," he added.

Last year's number-one rider in the UCI standings said the strength in depth of the Sky team on the final climb caused the divide, adding that Wiggins made his intentions unmistakably clear.

"Sky led the race as they like, with a rapid pace on the final climb. And if there was any doubt, Wiggins has shown he is here to win the race - from day one," said Rodríguez.

"At first we thought the key stages would be Thursday, Friday and the last one in Barcelona. But today we have seen that any stage, like today, you can make a difference."