Coquard wins final stage in Valencia as Quintana seals overall

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Bryan Coquard (Direct Energie) took a thrilling stage win on the final day of the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana after a two-man break consisting of Iljo Keisse (Quick-Step Floors) and Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky) were caught within the final 500 meters. Coquard led the peloton home to finish ahead of Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis, Solutions Credits) and Coen Vermeltfoort (Roompot - Nederlandse Loterij).

Nairo Quintana (Movistar) finished safely in the peloton to seal the overall title after claiming the Queen stage with a scintillating display on stage 4.

The stage was cut to just 35 kilometres due to high winds buffering the main climb of the day and the city-centre, but the riders made up for the lack of kilometres with a gripping criterium.

“It was difficult out there. The escape of two guys did a terrific job. The Roompot rider attacked with 400 metres to go and messed it up for us a bit. That left us all out of power and I was out on my own but in the end it was great. I’m happy that the riders and teams and riders found a solution to race today,” Coquard said, after taking his first win of the season.

It was track specialist Keisse who kicked off the racing with a long-range attack in the opening kilometres. He was briefly joined by Sep Vanmarcke (Cannondale-Drapac) but the partnership was short-lived with Keisse going clear.

It looked liked a suicide mission to begin with but the Belgian was in no mood to ease off as he sailed through the corners, adjusting his body to the windy conditions as the peloton struggled to build momentum.

With Cannondale still eager to impress, Davide Formolo was the next rider to try his luck. He fared no better, and despite opening up an initial gap he too was swallowed up as Keisse held his lead at around 35 seconds with 25 kilometres remaining.

The gap gradually began to slip as Keisse fought through a brisk headwind and with the leader in sight, Kwiatkowski seized his chance. He decisively made contact with his former teammate, adding new zest to a move that appeared doomed and as they battled into the final 8 kilometres they still held a near 25-second lead.

BMC Racing, Orica Scott and Cofidis all mustered a chase, with race leader Nairo Quintana at one stage forced to close a dangerous gap.

But just when the leading two looked as though they had the stage win between them, Orica surged once more and brought the pair back with one final corner remaining.

With the lead out trains splintered from such huge efforts, Vermeltfoort moved clear and as he rounded the final corner he looked to have the win. However Coquard had other ideas. He used the Roompot rider as marker before gathering pace and coming through the centre. Not even a late lunge from Bouhanni could deny the Direct Energie rider.

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