Bouhanni dominates Catalonia sprint opener

Calella - France's Nacer Bouhanni made up for his Milan-SanRemo disappointment at the weekend by dominating the opening sprint at the Tour of Catalonia on Monday.

The Cofidis rider pulled on the leader's jersey after crossing ahead of Britain's Ben Swift, who finished second in the Milan-SanRemo, after the 175km stage.

In the Milan-SanRemo sprint on Saturday Bouhanni suffered a problem with his bicycle chain and finished fourth.

Bouhanni, 25, claims his third win of the season after a stage of the Tour of Andalusia and the Paris-Nice.

Tuesday's second stage covers 178km between Mataro and Olot.

Results from the 175.8km first stage of the Tour of Catalonia on Monday around Calella:

Stage

1. Nacer Bouhanni (FRA/COF) 4hr 28min 51sec (average: 39.2 km/h), 2. Ben Swift (GBR/SKY) same time, 3. Daryl Impey (RSA/ORI) s.t., 4. Enrico Gasparotto (ITA/WGG) s.t., 5. Alexei Tsatevich (RUS/KAT) s.t., 6. Carlos Barbero (ESP/CJR) s.t., 7. Jordi Simon (ESP/VAT) s.t., 8. Kvin Reza (FRA/FDJ) s.t., 9. Eduard Prades (ESP/CJR) s.t., 10. Georg Preidler (AUT/GIA) s.t.

Overall standings

1. Nacer Bouhanni (FRA/COF) 4hr 28min 41sec, 2. Ben Swift (GBR/SKY) at 04sec, 3. Daryl Impey (RSA/ORI) 06, 4. Cameron Meyer (AUS/DDT) 09, 5. Enrico Gasparotto (ITA/WGG) 10, 6. Alexei Tsatevich (RUS/KAT) 10, 7. Carlos Barbero (ESP/CJR) 10, 8. Jordi Simon (ESP/VAT) 10, 9. Kvin Reza (FRA/FDJ) 10, 10. Eduard Prades (ESP/CJR) 10