Michael Woods’ 2019: three stage races, three top-7 spots
"Superman" Lopez wins Volta a Catalunya
Michael Woods earned his best ever Volta a Catalunya GC spot on Sunday after the final stage into Barcelona. Woods climbed one place overall to finish 6th. The Canadian has now been 6th, 3rd and 7th in the first three stage races of the season, two of which were WorldTour level. Woods came 7th in the Tour Down Under and 3rd in the Herald Sun Tour.
Finishing with his rivals on Sunday, Angel Lopez took the Volta a Catalunya title, his biggest stage race win since the 2016 Tour de Suisse.
? @SupermanlopezN, guanyador de la #VoltaCatalunya 2019!
?? ¡Miguel Ángel López, ganador de la Volta 2019!
?? Miguel Ángel López, Volta 2019 winner! pic.twitter.com/YdUaVXU5uy
— Volta a Catalunya (@VoltaCatalunya) March 31, 2019
Lopez won the fourth stage in the mountains to take a lead he kept despite second-place Adam Yates’ efforts.
We are in Barcelona – home of the Sagrada Familia, Las Ramblas, Park Guell and, more importantly, Cemetery of Forgotten Books – for the final stage of the #VoltaCatalunya, which promises plenty of action on the Montjuic circuit. pic.twitter.com/1sXBEe8lbj
— Deceuninck-QuickStep (@deceuninck_qst) March 31, 2019
On Sunday, Adam went on the attack with his brother Simon on the fifth of the eight circuits around Barcelona, but Egan Bernal, Nairo Quintana, Rafal Majka, Woods and others brought them back with 2-km to go.
The day’s winner was Bora-Hansgrohe’s Davide Formolo, with Woods 10th. Formolo’s German teammate Maximilian Schachmann earned Friday’s stage.
Three of the GC top four were Colombians. Woods and Steven Kruijswijk moved up one spot on Sunday as Dan Martin had a terrible conclusion to the week-long race. Woods will next contest the WorldTour Itzulia Basque Country from April 8 to 13. FloBikes will be showing the race.
2019 Volta a Catalunya Final GC
1) Angel Lopez (Colombia/Astana) 29:14:17
2) Adam Yates (Great Britain/Mitchelton-Scott) +0:14
3) Egan Bernal (Colombia/Sky) +0:17
4) Nairo Quintana (Colombia/Movistar) +0:25
5) Steven Kruijswijk (The Netherlands/Jumbo-Visma) +0:56
6) Michael Woods (Canada/EF Education First) +1:42
7) Rafal Majka (Poland/Bora-Hansrohe) 2:27
8) Guillaume Martin (France/Wanty-Gobert) +2:41
9) Enric Mas (Spain/Deceuninck-Quick Step) +2:49
10) Alejandro Valverde (Spain/Movistar) +3:02
