Strong day for Norway

Norwegians have enjoyed a strong day of racing around the world, with a string of solid results in both men's and women's racing. The nation's efforts were spearheaded by Thor Hushovd (Crédit Agricole) who claimed victory in the Volta a Catalunya's Prologue.

Hushovd took the ProTour event's lead by six seconds over American George Hincapie (High Road) on the 3.7 kilometre course in Lloret de Mar. "I am very satisfied with this victory," Hushovd said. "Tomorrow it will be very complicated to hold onto the leader's jersey because the stage is very difficult, with several mountain passes. This does not favour me very much.