Vuelta a España - Marc Soler: The team deserved some reward after such a difficult season
Oct 22 2020 03:15 am CET
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Movistar's Marc Soler has taken the victory of the second stage of the Vuelta a España after launching a late attack in the last downhill of the day.
Movistar did an outstanding work throughout the entire stage, setting a high pace in key moments to slim down the pack and force a selection in the last climb of the day. On the descent that led to the finish line, Soler did a very strong acceleration that left everybody else behind and his teammates controlled the pace of the group to allow him to take as much distance as possible and his first victory in a grand tour.
"I’m so happy with this victory," said Soler. "We were racing at home, we were so motivated to be riding in Navarra, next to the team’s headquarters, and together with our sports directors, we had already planned before the start we wanted to give it a try from the top of Urbasa. We started pulling there and everything simply went perfect from that moment on. Arcas, Imanol, Nelson and Rojillas always kept the pace high on the flat, then Carlos put on a really good performance from the bottom of the climb, and I tried to pick it up from that. I struggled a bit into the final meters of the climb because I had worked so hard, but as I saw that they were slowing down into the descent and I was coming back, I took advantage from the fact that I was maybe at 2x speed from them, I tried to pass them without anyone getting to my wheel – and I went on to the finish.
"We were so excited and willing to do well here – we actually did a recon of this very stage in the weekend, just before travelling to Irún. It’s my first ever victory in a Grand Tour and I’m so, so happy. This team already deserved some reward after so many efforts and such a difficult season. I can only thank the team for their support and everyone who has been by my side in these months."
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