Alejandro Valverde wins stage and overall at Volta a Catalunya
Mar 26 2017 08:23 pm CET
SUBSCRIBE TO RSS FEEDSAlejandro Valverde of Movistar Team has won the final stage of the Volta a Catalunya and as such confirmed his victory in the overall classification.
The final stage of the Spanish UCI WorldTour race led the riders to the Catalan capital city Barcelona. The finale consisted of eight local laps in the city.
A rather strong breakaway formed with David Gaudu (FDJ), Victor Campenaerts (LottoNL-Jumbo), Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Soudal), Daniel Teklehaimanot (Dimension Data), Jay McCarthy (Bora-hansgrohe) and Xandro Meurisse (Wanty-Groupe Gobert).
Collaboration in the escape group wasn't ideal however as some of its members felt a need to attack on several occasions. The group really broke into pieces at 25 kilometers from the finish when De Gendt's high pace could only be followed by McCarthy.
Sky's Geraint Thomas and Quick-Step Floors' Laurens De Plus attacked at around 14 kilometers and were soon joined by Rafal Majka and McCarthy, who could no longer hold on to De Gendt's pace and hoped to limit the damage by joining the chase group.
The effort was unsuccessful however as the chasers were soon caught by the peloton, as was De Gendt several seconds later. This was immediately followed by an attack by Sky leader Chris Froome. The three-times Tour de France winner immediately created a significant advantage as the peloton took a moment to react.
Froome was eventually caught at the summit of the Montjuic, as the riders completed the climb for the eighth and last time. The high pace set on the climb proved too much for many and the front group was reduced to just under 20 riders.
Dan Martin of Quick-Step attacked with three kilometers to go and was only followed by race leader Valverde, who was determined to put the crown on his overall victory by taking the last stage win as well.
The two were almost caught in the final meters but Valverde did well to stay just ahead of the chasers and as such take his third stage victory in this race and secure his overall victory in the best way possible.
Jarlinson Pantano of Trek-Segafredo and Arthur Vichot of FDJ took second and third place respectively.
In the final standings, Valverde finishes with a 1'03" advantage over Alberto Contador. Movistar teammate Marc Soler takes third place at 1'16".
