Few expected today's first stage of the Volta a Catalunya to have any impact on the final general classification of the WorldTour race, but with a blistering attack on the final descent Bradley Wiggins (Sky) changed the pre-race script. His sports director Marcus Ljungqvist was pleasantly surprised at the outcome since the acceleration had not been a part of the pre-race tactics.

As the peloton entered the final climb of today's opening of the Volta a Catalunya, eyes caught a familiar sight at the head of the peloton. Sky amassed its train at the front of the group, and young talent Joshua Edmondson made sure to set a hard tempo to keep team leader Bradley Wiggins in a good position.

With Wiggins safely at the top and Wiggins able to enter the descent in a good position, most expected Sky to just keep its control of the race. However, Wiggins had other plans, and his massive acceleration forced the final 13-man group to go clear. The British Tour champion ended up gaining 28 seconds on a number of his major rivals and dealt most of the peloton a psychological blow.

Even his sports director Marcus Ljungvist was surprised by the move.

“That was a proper bike race there at the end,” Ljungqvist said. "It was an instinctive attack and a great job from the boys. The plan of course was to keep Brad right up there and out of trouble on the climb. At the end there it turned out really well for us as they were able to take it all the way to the line. They make it easy for us when they race like that."

The Volta a Catalunya is Wiggins' first stage race on European soil. With the lack of a time trial and Wiggins' ambitious attempt to win a rare Giro-Tour double many assumed that he was not in the race to go for a personal result. Today's attack proved this assumption wrong.

“Bradley showed that he is up for it big time and is looking to take every opportunity," Ljungqvist said. "It was also a strong show of leadership."

With Wiggins now in a comfortable position, Sky hopes for an easy day tomorrow.

“I’d expect tomorrow to be another relatively controlled stage," Ljungqvist said. "I’d imagine Quick-Step will control it and it should be one for the sprinters. It was a great result today but the main GC days should be on the third and fourth stages.”

Tomorrow's second stage finishes with a number of laps on a flat circuit. Hence, the few sprinters in attendance will fancy their chances as Meersman looks to defend his leader's jersey. You can follow all the action on CyclingQuotes.com/live starting at 15.15.