Guarnieri wins Polish opener

Jacopo Guarnieri sprinted to victory on the opening day of the Tour of Poland after a crash had caused havoc in the closing stages.

Guarnieri wins chaotic finish

Jacopo Guarnieri sprinted to victory on the opening day of the Tour of Poland after a crash had caused havoc in the closing stages. Team Sky had been driving the peloton on as they passed under the 3km to go banner at the end of eight laps of Warsaw's city centre, but only 30 or so riders survived to contest the sprint after the remainder of the field were caught up in the chaos behind. Guarnieri kept his cool though and kicked on in the last 100m to take the victory ahead of Aitor Galdós (Euskaltel) and Allan Davis (Astana). Chris Sutton also emerged from the mêlée unscathed and led Team Sky home in sixth position. Although the pile-up ensured everyone was credited with the same time as Guarnieri, his victory bonus meant he opened up a four-second advantage over Galdós at the top of the overall standings, with Sutton 10 seconds adrift in seventh. The race had begun in far calmer circumstances but it was not long before Michael Schar (BMC Racing), Blazej Janiaczyk (Polska Bgz), Daniel Sesma (Euskaltel) and Laszlo Bodrogi (Katusha) moved clear of the pack and opened up a six-minute advantage after just 23km of action. HTC-Columbia decided enough was enough at that point and the quartet's lead had dropped back to two minutes by the time they made it onto the 8.1km closing circuit. That gap rose again temporarily after Wouter Weylandt (Quick-Step) and Timothy Gudsell (FDJ) were both sent tumbling in the chase pack, but only Bodogi remained out front with 30km to go, and he had been swept up long before the riders began their final, explosive lap. Any attacks that came after that were quickly annulled and the peloton was as one as they hurtled on towards the finish line. Hayman and Swift both pulled big turns on the front for Sutton, but it was Guarnieri who emerged as the fastest finisher on the day and wrapped up his first victory of the season in some style. Stage one result: 1 - Jacopo Guarnieri - (ITA) - Liquigas - (4:05:32)
2 - Aitor Galdós - (ESP) - Euskaltel - (same time)
3 - Allan Davis - (AUS) - Astana - (same time)
4 - Sébastien Chavanel - (FRA) - FDJ - (same time)
5 - Jaroslaw Marycz - (POL) - Saxo Bank - (same time)
6 - Chris Sutton - (AUS) - Team Sky - (same time)
7 - Alexander Kristoff - (NOR) - BMC Racing - (same time)
8 - Marcel Sieberg - (GER) - HTC-Columbia - (same time)
9 - Wouter Weylandt - (BEL) - Quick-Step - (same time)
10 - Mathieu Drujon - (FRA) - Caisse d'Epargne - (same time)
Overall standings: 1 - Jacopo Guarnieri - (ITA) - Liquigas - (4:05:22)
2 - Aitor Galdós - (ESP) - Euskaltel - (+4)
3 - Allan Davis - (AUS) - Astana - (+6)
4 - Daniel Sesma - (ESP) - Euskaltel - (+8)
5 - Sébastien Chavanel - (FRA) - FDJ - (+10)
6 - Jaroslaw Marycz - (POL) - Saxo Bank - (+10)
7 - Chris Sutton - (AUS) - Team Sky - (+10)
8 - Alexander Kristoff - (NOR) - BMC Racing - (+10)
9 - Marcel Sieberg - (GER) - HTC-Columbia - (+10)
10 - Wouter Weylandt - (BEL) - Quick-Step - (+10)