“The last 50 metres felt like an hour” – Dorian Godon survives late scare to edge Evenepoel on the throw in Catalunya opener

Dorian Godon opened the Volta a Catalunya 2026 with victory on stage 1, but only just, holding off a charging Remco Evenepoel on the line after a sprint that unravelled in dramatic fashion in Sant Feliu de Guixols.

What initially looked like a perfectly timed move quickly turned into a fight for survival, as Godon launched early, began to tie up, and was forced to cling on as Evenepoel surged back in the closing metres. The two hit the line almost as one, with the INEOS Grenadiers rider needing a bike throw to secure the win in a tight photo finish.

On paper, the opening stage pointed towards a reduced sprint, but the reality proved far more complex.

After a breakaway featuring Baptiste Veistroffer animated much of the day, the race was reshaped late on by UAE Team Emirates - XRG, who lifted the pace inside the final 10 kilometres and briefly split the peloton. Several riders were distanced in the acceleration, before the descent allowed the race to regroup and set up a tense run-in. That sequence left a fatigued but still sizeable group contesting the finish, where positioning and timing became decisive.

Godon admitted afterwards just how demanding the finale had been. “Yeah, it was super hard all along the coast. It was really, really fast, and there was a bit of a headwind, so I was around 20th or 30th position, and it wasn’t easy to move up,” the French champion told Cycling Pro Net.

Having fought his way forward, he managed to hold position near the front heading into the decisive moments. “Then on the descent, I managed to stay in the top five. They launched the sprint really early, around 400 metres, and it felt endless.”

That early launch proved to be both the winning move and the source of late danger.

As Tom Pidcock opened his sprint from distance, Godon followed and committed, but quickly found himself exposed into a headwind and running out of power in the closing metres. Evenepoel, finishing faster, appeared to be closing rapidly as the line approached. “Yeah, I had to make an effort because it moved up on the left at around 500 metres. In the end, there was a bit of a headwind, and I actually passed Remco quite early.”

In hindsight, the timing was far from ideal. “Maybe I should have waited a bit longer, but I wasn’t sure. In the last 50 metres, I had nothing left, I was completely empty.”

That final stretch is where the race turned from controlled to chaotic. “The last 50 metres felt like an hour for me.”

Godon did not celebrate on the line, uncertain whether he had held on, as Evenepoel’s higher speed through the finish briefly left the result unclear even after both riders had crossed.

Beyond the narrow margin, the victory carried added significance for Godon. “It’s a reward for the team. Everyone rode really well today. And to have the leader’s jersey in Catalunya, that’s another step up.”

The finish in Sant Feliu de Guixols also held personal meaning, with the Frenchman having spent time in the region earlier in his life. “These are roads where I used to train. I studied physiotherapy for eight years, about 30 kilometres from here, so I often stopped here for a coffee. I always had it in mind when passing through Sant Feliu de Guixols.”

After a strong showing at Paris-Nice, where he built confidence against high-level competition, this result further underlines his progression. “Yeah, that’s it. I was getting close before, but with Paris-Nice, I gained confidence, and I have a great team. Winning ahead of Remco, it was a nice duel at the end.”

For Godon, stage 1 in Catalunya was not just a victory, but confirmation of a rider moving up a level, even if he had to suffer to the very last metre to secure it.