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Bouhanni wins 1st stage of Volta a Catalunya

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CALELLA, Spain (AP) Nacer Bouhanni of France won a sprint finish to claim the opening stage of the Volta a Catalunya on Monday.

The Cofidis rider surged ahead of the front of the pack to win the 175.8-kilometer (109.2-mile) stage to and from Calella on the Mediterranean coast in 4 hours, 28 minutes, 51 seconds.

Sky's Ben Swift, runner-up at the Milan-San Remo on Saturday, was second.

The bonus for winning the stage gave Bouhanni a four-second lead over Swift in the general classification.

This edition of the weeklong race in northeastern Spain has attracted cycling's top riders, including Tour de France champion Chris Froome, former Tour winner Alberto Contador, and Colombian climber Nairo Quintana.

All three finished in the large group that is 10 seconds off Bouhanni's lead.

Tuesday's stage is a 178.8-kilometer (111.1-mile) ride from Mataro to Olot.

The Volta ends in Barcelona on Sunday.

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