MADRID, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Britain's Matthew Brennan of Visma-Lease-a-Bike produced a stunning finish to win the first stage of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya (Tour of Catalonia) cycle race on Monday.

It looked as if a tough 178-kilometer stage, with constant climbs and descents that started and finished in Saint Feliu de Guixols in constant pouring rain, was going to be decided two kilometers from the finish when Dutch rider Tibor del Grosso of Alpecin-Deceuninck was able to ride off the front of the main group of riders on a dangerous twisting descent.

It looked as if Del Grosso was set to win, but 19-year-old Brennan showed his strength as he overtook Del Grosso a handful of meters from the finish line for just his second professional win.

"I worked very hard to be at the head of the race, we know how important the descent was going to be, but the end was difficult and I gave it everything," said Brennan at the finish line.

Australian Kaden Groves of Alpecin-Deceuninck also overtook his teammate Del Grosso just ahead of the line to take the second place, and he will be one of the favorites to take Tuesday's second stage, which is a relatively flat 173.7 kilometers between Banyoles and Figueras in the northeast corner of Spain.

The Volta is one of the most important early season cycle stage races, lasting seven days, with the last stage ending with six circuits of Montjuic in the heart of Barcelona.

UAE-Team Emirates' Tour de France winner Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia isn't competing this year as he has set his sights on the Spring classics in Belgium, while Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard of Visma-Lease-a-Bike was forced to withdraw after suffering concussion after a bad fall in the recent Paris-Nice. Enditem

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