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Nairo Quintana wins Volta a Catalunya

March 27, 2016
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Nairo Quintana (Colombia/Movistar) can add another stage race to his impressive palmares after retaining his lead in the Volta a Catalunya Sunday to claim the victory. Katusha’s Alexey Tsatevich (Russia) took the final stage in Barcelona.

The first intermediate sprint came early and it was there that Stage 3 winner Dan Martin (Ireland/Etixx-QuickStep) did what he had done on the previous two days: nick a bonus second. This put him tied with Richie Porte (Australia/BMC) on time in third place but on the podium ahead of the Australian.

A 12-man breakaway bounded up the road and rolled over a Cat. 2 and Cat. 3 climb. CCC Sprandi seemed interested in keeping the escape on a short leash. At the start of the first of eight finishing circuits, each containing the Cat. 3 Montjuic, the gap was 3:20. Lluis Mas (Spain/Caja Rural) attacked his breakmates and lit out on his own, but then 2012 Junior world champion Matej Mohoric (Slovenia) overwhelmed the Spaniard and was alone at the front.

In the favourites peloton Fabio Aru (Italy/Astana) attacked with a mind set on getting into the top-10 on GC and got two reinforcements with 25-km remaining. With two circuits to go Mohoric had 1:27 on the Aru chase and 2:00 on the peloton.

Soon after, Chris Froome (Great Britain/Sky) flared out from the main bunch, making the junction with Aru while Quintana and Alberto Contador (Spain/Tinkoff) chased. Froome’s move was covered, but this only prompted Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain/Katusha), unusually quiet in the race so far, to try his luck.

The attacks were relentless but all were covered. Up ahead, the lead changed, with Mohoric giving way to breakmates Tsatevich and Mohoric’s compatriot Primož Roglič (LottoNL-Jumbo). More attacks from men in the top-10 only served to sop up remnants of the breakaway and a chase group that had formed around Rodriguez.

In the final sprint Tsatevich prevailed and the favourites group, which had separated itself amidst all the attacking, came in 14-seconds behind.

Michael Woods (Canada/Cannondale) placed 16th on the day, and he retained his 18th position on GC. Cannondale had three riders in the top-18 and was runner-up to BMC in the team competition. Ryder Hesjedal was the lanterne rouge of the Volta a Catalunya, placing 126th.

2016 Volta a Catalunya Stage 7
1) Alexey Tsatevich (Russia/Katusha) 3:13:33
2) Primož Roglič (Slovenia/LottoNL-Jumbo) s.t.
3) Jarlinson Pantano (Colombia/IAM Cycling) +0:14
16) Michael Woods (Canada/Cannondale) s.t.
89) Ryder Hesjedal (Canada/Trek-Segafredo) +5:47

2016 Volta a Catalunya Final GC
1) Nairo Quintana (Colombia/Movistar 30:50:19
2) Alberto Contador (Spain/Tinkoff) +0:07
3) Dan Martin (Ireland/Etixx-QuickStep) +0:17
4) Richie Porte (Australia/BMC) s.t.
5) Tejay Van Garderen (USA/BMC) +0:27
18) Michael Woods (Canada/Cannondale) +1:56
126) Ryder Hesjedal (Canada/Trek-Segafredo) +1:21:16

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