Ben Swift fell just short in stage one of the Volta a Catalunya

Nacer Bouhanni out-sprinted Ben Swift of Team Sky to win the opening stage of the Volta a Catalunya.

The top stage cyclists in the world are in the line-up for the week-long race in north-eastern Spain but the first day ended up belonging to the speedsters.

And French rider Bounhanni of Cofidis produced a brilliant change of pace in the closing stages to out-point Swift and win the 175km stage, which started and ended in Calella, in just under four and a half hours.

Another Sky rider, Nicolas Roche, made a brave bid for glory when he broke away from the pack with five kilometres to ride. However, the peloton picked up speed in the closing stages and he was reeled in just before the final kilometre.

Swift then got a nice lead into the sprint for the line and hit the front approaching the finish, only for Bouhanni to surge past on his outside and claim his third win of the season, to secure the race leader's jersey.

It meant Swift again had to settle for second, having been runner-up in Milan-San Remo on Saturday, in which Bouhanni suffered a problem with his chain in the sprint and finished fourth.

Chris Froome, Alberto Contador and Nairo Quintana are all taking part in the Volta a Catalunya this year and  Tuesday's stage is a 178.8km (111.1-mile) jaunt from Mataro to Olot.

Sky's two-time Tour de France champion Froome, returning to competitive action for the first time since he claimed the Herald Sun Tour title in Australia in early February, was kept out of trouble thanks to team-mates Vasil Kiryienka and Roche, who led the team to the front over the final climb of the Alt de Collsacreu.

Stage one result

1. Nacer Bouhanni (France / Cofidis) 4:28:51" 

2. Ben Swift (Britain / Team Sky) same time      

3. Daryl Impey (South Africa / Orica) st     

4. Cameron Meyer (Australia / Dimension Data) st     

5. Enrico Gasparotto (Italy / Wanty) st  

6. Alexey Tsatevich (Russia / Katusha) st               

7. Carlos Barbero (Spain / Caja Rural) st             

8. Jordi Simon (Spain / Verva) st                         

9. Kevin Reza (France / FDJ) st                        

10. Eduard Prades (Spain / Caja Rural) st

General classification

1. Nacer Bouhanni (France / Cofidis) 4:28:41" 

2. Ben Swift (Britain / Team Sky) +4"      

3. Daryl Impey (South Africa / Orica) +6"      

4. Cameron Meyer (Australia / Dimension Data) +9"      

5. Enrico Gasparotto (Italy / Wanty) +10"     

6. Alexey Tsatevich (Russia / Katusha) same time               

7. Carlos Barbero (Spain / Caja Rural) st             

8. Jordi Simon (Spain / Verva) st                         

9. Kevin Reza (France / FDJ) st                        

10. Eduard Prades (Spain / Caja Rural) st