Volta Catalunya, Ciccone's feat

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21
Mar

The Italian rider passes Roglic and Evenepoel

Giulio Ciccone wins the second stage of the Volta Catalunya from Mataró to Vallter of 165.4 km. The Italian rider precedes Primoz Roglic and Remco Evenepoel in the sprint with a great class action. The stage is characterized by the escape of eight runners born after only 4 km of racing; in addition to the Italian from Intermarché Circus Wanty, Simone Petilli there are Simon Carr (EF), Ewen Costiou (Team Arkéa Samsic), Christopher Juul-Jensen (Team Jayco AlUla), Vadim Pronskiy (Team Astana), Julen Amezqueta (Caja Rural - Seguros RGA), Francisco Galvan (Equipo Kern Pharma) and Xabier Mikel Azparren (Euskaltel Euskadi).

The leading peloton has a 4' lead as they pass the Col de Coubet 47km from the finish, with leader Primoz Roglic 's Team Jumbo Visma controlling the pace at the front of the main peloton.  

On the final climb, with nine kilometers to go, the Bahrain Victorious began forcing and picking up the pace. Only Simon Carr remained ahead, with a thirty-second advantage, but he was picked up again two kilometers later.   Mechanical problem for Joao Almeida who still manages to recover, while Egan Bernal and especially Richard Carapaz lose ground .  

With 6.5 km to go, Esteban Chaves stretches, followed by Sepp Kuss , who however is unable to keep up with the Colombian's speed. In the meantime, the group continues to make selection, always pushed by the men from Bahrain, 5.5 km from the finish even Romain Bardet loses contact .  

With 2 km to go to the finish Chaves has a 25” advantage over the group of the best, when Mikel Landa starts and Remco Evenepoe immediately counterattacks, making a further selection.  

One kilometer from the finish line Evenepoel starts again, with him only Roglic, an excellent Ciccone and a generous Adam Yates remain.   Chaves, in front, gives way, while Evenepoel sprints again with three hundred meters to go: it's a three-man sprint with Roglic and Ciccone and it is the Italian who gets the upper hand with a fantastic final sprint.  

In the general classification Roglic remains in command with six seconds ahead of Evenepoel and the stage winner Ciccone.


ARRIVAL ORDER:

1 CICCONE Giulio Trek - Segafredo

2 ROGLIČ Primož Jumbo-Visma ,,

3 Evenepoel Remco Soudal - Quick Step ,,

4 LANDA Mikel Bahrain - Victorious 0:11

5 YATES Adam UAE Team Emirates,,

6 ALMEIDA João UAE Team Emirates ,,

7 CHAVES Esteban EF Education-EasyPost 0:15

8 WOODS Michael Israel - Premier Tech ,,

9 HINDLEY Jai BORA - hansgrohe ,,

10 UIJTDEBROEKS Cian BORA - hansgrohe ,,


GENERAL RANKING:

1 ROGLIČ Primož Jumbo-Visma

2 Evenepoel Remco Soudal - Quick Step 0:06

3 CICCONE Giulio Trek - Segafredo ,,

4 LANDA Mikel Bahrain - Victorious 0:27

5 ALMEIDA João UAE Team Emirates ,,

6 WOODS Michael Israel - Premier Tech 0:31

7 HINDLEY Jai BORA - hansgrohe ,,

8 CHAVES Esteban EF Education-EasyPost ,,

9 UIJTDEBROEKS Cian BORA - hansgrohe 0:41

10 SOLER Marc UAE Team Emirates 0:46


Photo: Sprint Cycling Agency