Matthews wins Vuelta Rioja

Michael Matthews (Orica-GreenEdge) was one of five first-time Grand Tour stage winners in the first 10 days.

Michael Matthews (Orica-GreenEdge) was one of five first-time Grand Tour stage winners in the first 10 days. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Michael Matthews took Orica-GreenEdge’s first win on European soil for the 2014 season with a convincing bunch sprint victory at the Vuelta a La Rioja in Basque Country. Matthews bettered his second place position at this event last year ahead of Francesco Lasca (Caja Rural- Seguros RGA) in second and Carlos Barbero (Euskadi) in third.

“It’s obviously nice to win at any time, but the first win of the year is always hard to get,” said Matthews. “Once you get the first one they usually keep coming. The lead out was perfect today, probably the best lead-out I’ve experienced with any team. Hopefully the win today gives the team confidence that I can win and if we can keep these lead outs going there should be more wins to come.”

The team went into the 164.7 kilometre warm up race for this week’s six day Vuelta al Pais Vasco firmly focused on getting Matthews to the line for the win.

“Everything went to plan today,” Matthews said. “We came here and were expected to win. We had to work a little harder than we would have liked to bring back the break at the end and we had to sacrifice a few guys.

“Hopefully they can recover ahead of the first stage of Pais Vasco tomorrow,” added Matthews. “We’ve done recon on that stage and it’s going to be harder than we first expected. We’ll be giving it a good go tomorrow.”

With the team’s first win of the European season coming relatively late in comparison with previous years, the confidence garnered from Matthew’s win has come at an ideal time ahead of the Basque tour that brought so much success for the team in 2013.

“This win is really good for morale ahead of Pais Vasco,” said Stephens. “We’ve given our older guys a bit of a rest, which meant our younger guys had the chance to take a few opportunities, which they did quite successfully. Now our more experienced riders are back in the mix, and we’re going to try to win some bike race again. It’s taken a little while to get our first victory in Europe this year, but this is a great sign of things to come in the weeks ahead.”

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica Greenedge3:54:34
2Francesco Lasca (Ita) Caja Rural - SegurosRow 1 - Cell 2
3Carlos Barbero (Spa) EuskadiRow 2 - Cell 2
4Vicente Garcia (Spa) Louletano - D. DouraRow 3 - Cell 2
5Sergey Shilov (Rus) LokosphinxRow 4 - Cell 2
6Jorge Montenegro (Ecu) Louletano - D. DouraRow 5 - Cell 2
7Evgeny Shalunov (Rus) LokosphinxRow 6 - Cell 2
8Brett Lancaster (Aus) Orica GreenedgeRow 7 - Cell 2
9Pablo Lastras (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 8 - Cell 2
10Jon Aberasturi (Spa) EuskadiRow 9 - Cell 2
11Jesus Herrada (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 10 - Cell 2
12Ibai Salas (Spa) Burgos-BhRow 11 - Cell 2
13Dmitry Sokolov (Rus) LokosphinxRow 12 - Cell 2
14Federico Figueiredo (Por) Radio PopularRow 13 - Cell 2
15Alexander Vdovin (Rus) LokosphinxRow 14 - Cell 2
16Pablo Torres (Spa) Burgos-BhRow 15 - Cell 2
17Sergey Vdovin (Rus) LokosphinxRow 16 - Cell 2
18Francisco Moreno (Spa) Louletano - D. DouraRow 17 - Cell 2
19Micael Isidoro (Por) Louletano - D. DouraRow 18 - Cell 2
20Mikel Aristi (Spa) EuskadiRow 19 - Cell 2
21Haritz Orbe (Spa) EuskadiRow 20 - Cell 2
22Peio Bilbao (Spa) Caja Rural - SegurosRow 21 - Cell 2
23César Fonte (Por) Radio PopularRow 22 - Cell 2
24Igor Anton (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 23 - Cell 2
25Jesus Del Pino (Spa) Burgos-BhRow 24 - Cell 2
26Manuel Sola (Spa) Keith Mobel - PartizRow 25 - Cell 2
27Christian Meier (Can) Orica GreenedgeRow 26 - Cell 2
28Jose Ragonessi (Ecu) Team EcuadorRow 27 - Cell 2
29Esteban Plaza (Spa) Keith Mobel - PartizRow 28 - Cell 2
30Aleksey Rybalkin (Rus) LokosphinxRow 29 - Cell 2
31Daniel Silva (Por) Radio PopularRow 30 - Cell 2
32Nuno Matos (Por) Radio PopularRow 31 - Cell 2
33Victor Martin (Spa) Burgos-BhRow 32 - Cell 2
34Jaime Roson (Spa) Team EcuadorRow 33 - Cell 2
35Segundo Navarrete (Ecu) Team EcuadorRow 34 - Cell 2
36Leonidas Novoa (Ecu) Team EcuadorRow 35 - Cell 2
37Javier Aramendia (Spa) Caja Rural - SegurosRow 36 - Cell 2
38Arkimedes Arguelyes (Rus) LokosphinxRow 37 - Cell 2
39Antonio Cabello (Spa) Team EcuadorRow 38 - Cell 2
40Virgilio Santos (Por) Radio PopularRow 39 - Cell 2
41Carlos Quisphe (Ecu) Team EcuadorRow 40 - Cell 2
42Dario Hernandez (Spa) Burgos-BhRow 41 - Cell 2
43Andreas Keuser (Ger) Keith Mobel - PartizRow 42 - Cell 2
44Hernani Broco (Spa) Louletano - D. DouraRow 43 - Cell 2
45Rui Sousa (Por) Radio PopularRow 44 - Cell 2
46Igor Merino (Spa) Burgos-BhRow 45 - Cell 2
47Miguel Minguez (Spa) EuskadiRow 46 - Cell 2
48Celio Sousa (Por) Radio PopularRow 47 - Cell 2
49Michael Albasini (Swi) Orica GreenedgeRow 48 - Cell 2
50Marcos Garcia (Spa) Caja Rural - SegurosRow 49 - Cell 2
51Jon Larrinaga (Spa) EuskadiRow 50 - Cell 2
52Victor Etxebarria (Spa) EuskadiRow 51 - Cell 2
53Raul Rubio (Spa) Louletano - D. DouraRow 52 - Cell 2
54Alvaro Robredo (Spa) Burgos-Bh0:00:26
55Sandro Pinto (Por) Louletano - D. DouraRow 54 - Cell 2
56Marcos Jurado (Spa) Keith Mobel - Partiz0:00:28
57Pieter Weening (Ned) Orica Greenedge0:00:35
58Davide Vigano (Ita) Caja Rural - Seguros0:00:37
59Luis Mas (Spa) Caja Rural - Seguros0:01:01
60Raul Alarcon (Spa) Louletano - D. Doura0:01:16
61Antonio Molina (Spa) Caja Rural - SegurosRow 60 - Cell 2
62Karol Domagalski (Pol) Caja Rural - SegurosRow 61 - Cell 2
63Javier Moreno (Spa) Movistar Team0:01:26
64Enrique Sanz (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 63 - Cell 2
65Illart Zuazubiskar (Spa) Euskadi0:01:41
66Jaume Rovira (Spa) Team Ecuador0:02:01
67David Belda (Spa) Burgos-Bh0:02:29
68Simon Yates (GBr) Orica Greenedge0:02:52
69Isaac Carbonell (Spa) Team Ecuador0:03:13
70Juan C. Ramirez (Spa) Keith Mobel - Partiz0:06:29

 

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