Bold opening: UAE rode the race of the day, executing it to perfection while others watched. But here’s where it gets controversial: the opening stage of the Valencia Tour exposed not just which team was strongest, but how strategy can redefine a race in minutes.
Tom Pidcock, riding for Pinarello-Q36.5, had to acknowledge defeat on Friday’s opening stage, as UAE Team Emirates-XRG asserted control. Yet the Briton can still walk away from the day with a sense of accomplishment, having demonstrated superior form on the final, short climb where he emerged as the strongest among the main favorites.
Marc Soler secured the win after breaking clear around halfway through the shortened 90-kilometer stage, aided by Danish teammate Julius Johansen. Soler, who thrives in time-trial-like efforts, finished nineteen seconds ahead of the bunch, with Soler clearly savoring the moment.
“I’m really happy with the result and the team spirit. Julius and I worked well together and we just kept going. It wasn’t easy with the wind,” Soler said, also giving a nod to teammate Tim Wellens for disrupting the chase from the behind-group.
“Tim did a fantastic job in the group and helped us a lot. The team was great all day. I’m happy to wear the leader’s jersey. We’ll see what the wind does tomorrow and what’s waiting for us,” Soler added.
Pidcock finished third, 40 seconds behind Soler, and extended his gap by another 20 seconds to a small chasing group that included Wellens, Pello Bilbao, Matej Mohrorič, and Mathyas Kopecký. Reflecting on his first race of the season, Pidcock remained upbeat: “To be honest, I’m really happy with my legs and how I felt for my first race. I can’t complain, though UAE played it smarter.”
The explosive rider from Britain, who was preparing for a comeback in Chile, spent much of the day battling the wind. “Our radio communication wasn’t great, and right when Wellens attacked I was taking a gel. Once the gap appeared, we couldn’t close it. UAE rode the perfect race.”
“With the wind, I hoped we might still be able to bridge back in the last 25 kilometers, but it turned into more of a tailwind and that made it harder,” Pidcock concluded in his post-race interview.
