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Alejandro Valverde sprints to victory in Stage 2 of the Volta a Catalunya, Paterski still leads

March 24, 2015
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Alejandro Valverde (Spain/Movistar) earned his second win of the season as he nailed the bunch sprint in Tuesday’s Stage 2 of the Volta a Catalunya. Maciej Paterski (Poland/CCC) kept the race lead that he snatched with Monday’s opening stage triumph.

Paterski didn’t have to worry about one of the GC favourites nicking his green-striped jersey, as they were all 2:40 in arrears at the start of the day and there was only a Cat. 3 Alt de Montagut just before the finish in Olot on which they could make up time. It was his Monday breakmates Pierre Rolland (France/Europcar), on the same time, and Bart De Clercq (Belgium/Lotto-Soudal), two-seconds back, who were the only concern.

A quartet of fugitives darted up the road early in the stage and settled in for a day of wet endeavour. Dutchman Tom Stamsnijder (Giant-Alpecin), Kiwi Sam Bewley (Orica-GreenEdge), Ethiopian Tsgabu Grmay (Lampre) and Spaniard Lluis Mas (Caja Rural) would be the day’s rabbits. Paterski’s CCC squad, mindful of their man’s breakaway getting away from the peloton on Monday, kept the lead under four minutes. The weather was so foul that the live footage of the race was spotty and limited to motorcycle cameras.

Alas, the breakaway would not stick in Stage 2, though Mas and Grmay scooted up the Montagut in an attempt to avoid absorption. However, it all came together for the sprint. Valverde received a good lead-out from his team and teammate JJ Rojas placed second on the stage. The day’s winner now sits in fourth place, 2:40 behind Paterski. Both Christian Meier and Ryder Hesjedal finished in the bunch.

Valverde dedicated his win to the victims of Tuesday’s Germanwings air disaster.

Stage 3 of the Volta a Catalunya around Girona contains five categorized climbs, including a Cat. 1 smack-dab in the middle of the 156-km route and another peaking 10-km from the finish.

2015 Volta a Catalunya Stage 2
1) Alejandro Valverde (Spain/Movistar) 5:02:49
2) JJ Rojas (Spain/Movistar) s.t.
3) Martin Elmiger (Switzerland/IAM Cycling) s.t.
29) Christian Meier (Canada/Orica-GreenEdge) s.t.
96) Ryder Hesjedal (Canada/Cannondale-Garmin) s.t.

2015 Volta a Catalunya GC
1) Maciej Paterski (Poland/CCC) 9:36:20
2) Pierre Rolland (France/Europcar) +0:04
3) Bart De Clercq (Belgium/Lotto-Soudal) +0:08
29) Christian Meier (Canada/Orica-GreenEdge) +2:50
135) Ryder Hesjedal (Canada/Cannondale-Garmin) +18:23

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