It was anything but a customary start to a WorldTour event as a threatening three-man breakaway rode to the finish to combat the win in the 185.2-kilometer first stage of the Volta a Catalunya.

The trio escaped late in a tough opening day that contained three category-rated climbs, including a punishing category-one topping out 63 kilometers from the end. 

Everything appeared to play by the book until the breakaway gained a generous 13-minute gap, and then when the peloton proceeded to delay instigating a chase there was not enough road left to wind in the antagonists.  

“I think what we saw today was an example of modern cycling because in the past a situation like that wouldn't have happened,” explained Trek Factory Racing director Alain Gallopin. “There was also a problem with the organisation of the race, they announced a gap of six minutes but in reality it was 13 minutes, which surprised everybody. With a stage like today with a lot of uphills and downhills, it was difficult to close that gap. We can close a gap in the uphills, but not in the long downhills. I think that also played into their win.”

It was a risky situation with general classification threat Pierre Rolland (Europcar) - fourth overall at the Giro d’Italia last year - part of the breakaway and unpredictable tactics by many of the GC rival teams.  When the earnest chase began, it was too late.

The three men played out an exciting finish, which saw Maciej Paterski (CCC Sprandi Polkowice) grab the win from Rolland after Bart De Clercq (Lotto Soudal) tried a surprise attack with 500 meters to go.

Two minutes and forty seconds later the peloton blasted across the line for the minor placings, and more importantly, to assess the damage to the leaderboard.

“I also think that the teams don't talk together as they used to,” added Gallopin. “Letting guys such as Rolland or De Clercq have such a large gap on the GC is probably not a good idea. For us nothing changes. We still have ambition on the GC with Haimar [Zubledia] and Riccardo [Zoidl]. The race has just begun.”

The abnormal start to the seven-day race has certainly provided an interesting battle for the next six days as the three men hold a nice cushion and it will not be easy to wrestle back the precious minutes lost today.