Valenciana Tour Opens with a Bang: Girmay Wins, Pedersen Crashes Out
The Lidl-Trek star, Mads Pedersen, suffered a crash during the opening stage of the five-day Volta Comunitat Valenciana in Spain, forcing him to withdraw from the race. Pedersen, a spring classics favorite, was aiming for his first career monument win this season. The crash occurred early in the stage, and he was transported to a local hospital for assessment.
Meanwhile, Biniam Girmay of NSN Cycling secured his first professional victory since the 2024 Tour de France, winning the bunch sprint in his season debut. Girmay's win marks a successful start to his new team after transferring from Intermarché-Wanty.
The Valenciana tour is part of a busy period of Spanish racing, leading up to March. Top cyclists like Remco Evenepoel, Brandon McNulty, and João Almeida are also in action, with Evenepoel seeking to maintain his winning streak after a successful start in the Mallorca Challenge.
