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2019 Volta Ciclista a Catalunya: Stage 2 Results

  • Ron 

Team Sunweb’s Michael Matthews held off Alejandro Valverde to win the final sprint in Sant Feliu de Guíxols for the 2nd stage of the 2019 Volta Ciclista a Catalunya.

The second day of racing at the 2019 Volta Ciclista a Catalunya saw the peloton travel 167 kilometres from Mataró to Sant Feliu de Guíxols. Although the parcours didn’t feature the same amount of climbing as on the opening day, the third category climb of Alt de Romanyà (5.8 kilometres at 4.5%) topped out with only 24 kilometres left and with the pace high, the bunch was stretched out.

Team Sunweb continued to work well at the head of the peloton, ensuring that Michael Matthews was kept safe. With several uncategorised climbs towards the end and a tough drag to the line in the final kilometer, the day’s winner was going to have to time their effort perfectly. While others around him started to fade, Matthews managed to kick and produce a strong sprint to the line, taking the win on the day.

A delighted Matthews was quick to thank the team: “Coming into the final kilometres I was able to move up to the front on the downhill and flat before the climb to the finish. I positioned myself near Valverde as I thought he was the favourite for the day. I timed my sprint really well, starting with 150 metres to go and managed to hold everyone off. The team rode really well from the start, we were always in control of the race and never let it get out of hand and came out with the win. I’m happy to get the win for them.”

Team Sunweb coach Aike Visbeek was pleased with the commitment shown today: “We took control of the peloton from the beginning of the race and did a lot of work to keep the break in check. Once onto the harder parts of the course the guys worked hard to keep Michael in a good position, before helping set him up for the finale. Michael showed great determination by taking the sprint, it was a really impressive effort from him. The whole team rode really well today and it is great to get another win.”

Valverde Moves Up

Alejandro Valverde (Movistar Team) remained into full focus at the race, covering stage two with extreme attention to gain an edge on his rivals before the decisive days of the race. Movistar’s leader took 2nd place at the uphill finish behind Matthews.

Valverde was well supported in the approach to the final circuit by Carlos Verona, Andrey Amador and Imanol Erviti despite suffering a cut to his left hand as a bike from a Bora-Hansgrohe rider hitting him into a crash before the first passage to the finish, and was even able to contest the intermediate sprint in Platja d’Aro, 9km from the end, to take another 3″ to add to the 2″ snatched on Monday. Valverde now sits 2nd overall at 2’47” from race leader

“It was a very dangerous, twisty finale,” Valverde said. “In the first passage through the line, into a small descent before the final kilometer and the last straight, there was a crash with Froome and a Bora rider. I was riding just behind Froome, and even if I didn’t touch either him or the Bora rider, the latter’s bike hit my left hand and caused me a small cut, which hurts quite a bit. But happily, and leaving that incident aside, it’s a day to be happy about. We took bonus seconds at the intermediate sprint, both Nairo -second- and myself -first-, then I could contest the finish and take 2nd place. My body is reacting well to the recent efforts and the team is working perfectly, so let’s see what we can do in Vallter tomorrow.”

Stage 2 Brief Results:

  1. Michael Matthews (Team Sunweb) at 4h9’34”
  2. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar Team) s.t.
  3. Daryl Impey (Mitchelton-Scott) s.t.
  4. Maximilian Schachmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) s.t.
  5. Odd Christian Eiking (Wanty-Gobert) s.t.

General Classification After Stage 2:

  1. Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal) at 8h23’50”
  2. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar Team) at 2’47”
  3. Michael Matthews (Team Sunweb) at 2’48”
  4. Maximilian Schachmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) s.t.
  5. Daryl Impey (RSA) Mitchelton-Scott at 2’54”
  6. Nairo Quintana (Movistar Team) at 2’56”
  7. Egan Bernal (Team Sky) at 2’57”
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