By Kerry Purget
  

  Day 1
  
  Spanish time trialist Cris Bolano continued his recent good form by winning the Volta ao Porto Prologue in dramatic circumstances on Day 1.
  
  The WV De Dommel cyclist had to change a flat tire right before race start, but still managed to blow away his rivals in the wet conditions.
  
  It marked a good day at the office for the Dutch side with Max Roogaars and Cazimir Zafiu also among the top finishers.
  
  A steady drizzle had made life difficult for the Volta aspirants, the slick roads having claimed a few victims earlier in the day, amongst them Bolano's teammate Amery Hoff who was already nursing a thigh injury.
  
  De Coppis rider Mark

Boezeman was also involved in a spectacular crash, veering off the road near a hairpin bend and smashing into barriers barely feet away from horrified spectators who had to scramble out of the way to avoid getting hit. Rode Stier's Chinese climber You Yi was another unfortunate victim, as he was left with a bloody gash on his face and a suspected broken arm after losing control midway through the circuit.
  
  While Bolano managed to finish the course with relative ease, it was Italian rider Brando Noe who led the standings for most of the day, taking advantage of dryer conditions early on to post a very respectable time. The minions of static timetrialist had been looking to post his first win of the season, but was left crestfallen at Bolano's late ride.
  
  Dodge's Australian hotshot Fenton Sommers, one of the early favourites, could only manage a third place finish.