Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana stage 3 – Live coverage

Since the beginning of 2020, Remco Evenepoel has completed six stage races and won all of them (he abandoned the Giro d'Italia and Benelux Tour last year). And, since the beginning of his professional career, every time Evenepoel has led a stage race, he has gone on to win it overall. On the evidence of his exhibition on the opening day here, that sequence looks set to continue at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, though today's finale to Alto des Antenas del Maigmó Tibi will tell us more, particularly given the gravel sector near the top.

Today's 155km run from Alicante to Antenas del Maigmó takes in four classified climbs. The category 2 Coll de Rates comes after 65km, followed shortly afterwards by the Fageca (category 3). The category 2 ascent to Benifallim is next up, while the short category 3 kick to Tibi precedes the stiff, 6km finale up the Alto Antenas del Maigmó Tibi.

The neutralised start is at 13:07 local time, with the peloton scheduled to hit kilometre zero at 13:17.

General classification after stage 2

1          Remco Evenepoel (Bel) Quick-Step AlphaVinyl      8:26:13

2          Aleksandr Vlasov (Rus) Bora-Hansgrohe      0:00:19

3          Carlos Rodriguez Cano (Spa) Ineos Grenadiers        0:00:37

4          Luis Leon Sanchez (Spa) Bahrain Victorious 0:00:42

5          Enric Mas Nicolau (Spa) Movistar Team     

6          Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team    

7          Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Israel Start-Up Nation

8          Antwan Tolhoek (Ned) Trek-Segafredo       

9          Matej Mohoric (Slo) Bahrain Victorious       0:00:48

10        Juan Ayuso Pesquera (Spa) UAE Team Emirates     0:01:14

11        Pavel Sivakov (Rus) Ineos Grenadiers          

12        Mikkel Honoré (Den) Quick-Step AlphaVinyl         

13        Ben Hermans (Bel) Israel Start-Up Nation    0:01:30

14        Antonio Soto (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi           0:01:34

15        Sam Oomen (Ned) Jumbo-Visma     

16        Tao Geoghegan Hart (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers           

17        Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana Qazaqstan Team         

18        Giulio Ciccone (Ita) Trek-Segafredo 

19        Florian Stork (Ger) Team DSM        

20        Damien Howson (Aus) BikeExchange-Jayco

That top 20 has altered even before the start, of course, as BikeExchange-Jayco have withdrawn from the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana after they reported two positive tests for COVID-19 among their team this morning. 

"The safety of all our riders and staff, and that of everyone involved in the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana is of the utmost importance, and we believe the only correct decision to be taken in these circumstances is to withdraw from the race," said manager Brent Copeland. "We would like to thank the race organisation for their understanding and support, and will continue to carry out our team policy to ensure the safest possible outcome."

Read more here.

Fabio Jakobsen made it two from two for QuickStep-AlphaVinyl yesterday when he won by the proverbial street in Torrent. The Dutchman is set to be QuickStep's sprinter at the Tour de France this year, and he has started the campaign like a man eager to ensure he retains that place atop their depth chart. The lead-out wasn't quite pitch perfect but it scarcely mattered, such was Jakobsen's strength. "I found my own way and launched myself at 200 from the line," he said. "I have to say I had small cramps in the legs because it was hot and the first race of the season but I'm happy with the win."

The peloton has been flagged away from the start in Alicante and is making its way through the neutralised zone. 

-155km

The peloton has hit kilometre zero, and stage 3 of the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana is formally underway. There's a flat, roundabout-peppered opening to proceedings before the climbing starts after 56km with the Coll des Rates.

Stephen Bassett (Human Powered Health) is among the early attackers, but the American is pinned back. The pace is brisk in these opening kilometres and the peloton remains intact. 

-145km

The pace remains high 10km into the stage, and the day's early break has yet to establish itself.

Antonio Jesus Soto (Euskaltel-Euskadi) is the next would-be escapee to try his luck. He's opened a small gap over the peloton, but he will surely need some company if his move is to gain any real traction.

Soto's solo rally lasts a kilometre or so before he, too, is brought to heel.

Evenepoel holds a buffer of 19 seconds over Aleksandr Vlasov (Bora-Hansgrohe) and 37 seconds on Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos) after his dominant win on the opening day. Although he claimed that retaining the yellow jersey is his principal objective this afternoon, it would be a surprise indeed if the Belgian didn't seek to deliver another exhibition on the final climb. "On Friday the most important thing is to defend the yellow jersey," Evenepoel said yesterday. "But if we have the opportunity to make it three wins out of three, then why not? We're here to win races." Alasdair Fotheringham has the full story here.

-137km

For the time being, nobody is managing to steal the limelight from Evenepoel out on the road. Chad Haga (Human Powered Health) and Hecter Carretero (Kern Pharma) briefly escaped the peloton, but they were just as quickly reeled back in. 

-124km

Attack follows counter-attack, but still nobody has managed to establish a working advantage over the peloton. A dozen or so riders detached themselves at the front of the bunch, but their lead soon melts away all over again. Gruppo compatto.

Interestingly, while BikeExchange-Jayco went home after their two COVID-19 cases, Movistar have opted to remain in the race despite both Einer Rubio and Juri Hollmann testing positive for the coronavirus after stage 1. Alasdair Fotheringham has an update on the situation here.

-112km

Out on the road, meanwhile, a 23-man group briefly gained some headway only to be pinned back. Now Lars van den Berg (Groupama-FDJ) and Nicolas Prodhomme (AG2R Citroën) have opened a small advantage.

As well as the entire BikeExchange-Jayco team, incidentally, there were a number of other non-starters today: Wilco Kelderman (Bora-Hansgrohe), Ryan Gibbons (UAE Team Emirates), Felix Gall, Jaakko Hänninen (AG2R Citroën) and Tobias Andresen (DSM).

A crash in the peloton sees a number of riders come down. Meanwhile, Van den Berg and Prodhomme have a lead of 11 seconds over the bunch.

-106km

Confirmation of the searing early speed. Van den Berg and Prodhomme have covered some 48km in the first hour of racing. They remain a handful of seconds ahead of the bunch.

On the approach to the Coll des Rates, Van den Berg and Prodhomme have some reinforcements, as Sven Erik Bystrøm, Dimitri Claeys (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert), Jan Tratnik (Bahrain Victorious), Attila Valter (Groupama-FDJ), Kenny Molly (Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB), Jan Polanc (UAE Team Emirates) and Jacopo Mosca (Trek-Segafredo) bridge across.

-100km

Break:

Nicolas Prodhomme (AG2R Citroën), Sven Erik Bystrøm, Dimitri Claeys (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert), Jan Tratnik (Bahrain Victorious), Lars van den Berg, Attila Valter (Groupama-FDJ), Kenny Molly (Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB), Jan Polanc (UAE Team Emirates) and Jacopo Mosca (Trek-Segafredo)

Peloton at 0:30

The nine escapees hit the base of the Coll de Rates (6.8km at 5.5%) with a lead of 25 seconds over a peloton that is being led by Gazprom-RusVelo. 

The Coll de Rates is a favoured test site for the many riders who flock to this corner of Valencia for pre-season training, and Tadej Pogačar dealt his first psychological blow of the new year when he posted his data from his apparently record-breaking time up the climb to Strava last month. Pogačar is not in this race, of course, as he starts his campaign at the UAE Tour. But there may eventually be a direct confrontation between Pogačar and Evenepoel before 2022 is out. The pair haven't raced against one another too often in their careers, but both men are slated to ride Liège-Bastogne-Liège and, perhaps more pertinently, the Vuelta a España this year. 

The leading group splits as the gradient bites on the Coll de Rates. Bystrom, Valter, Van den Berg, Tratnik and Prodhomme are in front, while Molly, Polanc and Claeys lose ground.

Valentin Paret-Peintre (AG2R Citroën) has attacked from the peloton and he is picking his way through the dropped riders from the break as he bridges towards the front of the race.

-90km

Paret-Peintre joins Van den Berg, Valter, Tratnik, Prodhomme and Bystrom at the head of the race shortly before the top of the Coll de Rates.

Lars van den Berg leads Tratnik, Valter and the rest of the break over the top of the Coll de Rates with a buffer of 20 seconds over the dropped riders and almost 50 over the peloton. 

-87km

Break:

Valentin Paret-Peintre, Nicolas Prodhomme (AG2R Citroën), Sven Erik Bystrøm (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert), Jan Tratnik (Bahrain Victorious), Lars van den Berg, Attila Valter (Groupama-FDJ)

Chasers at 0:18:

Dimitri Claeys (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert) Kenny Molly (Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB), Jan Polanc (UAE Team Emirates), Jacopo Mosca (Trek-Segafredo), Dani Navarro (Burgos-BH), Fernando Barcelo (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA)

Peloton at 1:22

-84km

The front two groups merge, leaving 11 riders at the head of the race. Valentin Paret-Peintre, Nicolas Prodhomme (AG2R Citroën), Sven Erik Bystrøm (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert), Jan Tratnik (Bahrain Victorious), Lars van den Berg, Attila Valter (Groupama-FDJ), Dimitri Claeys (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert), Kenny Molly (Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB), Jan Polanc (UAE Team Emirates), Dani Navarro (Burgos-BH) and Fernando Barcelo (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) have a lead of 1:40 on the peloton on the short category 3 climb of Sa Creueta. 

Tratnik led the break over the climb of Sa Creueta with a buffer of almost two minutes over the peloton. Ivan Cobo (Kern-Pharma) is at 1:38, caught in the no man's land between the bunch and the break, and he will surely drop back to the peloton in due course. 

Cobo is duly swept up by the peloton, which trails the 11 leaders by two minutes at the midpoint of the stage. 

-76km

After a rapid start to proceedings, puncuated by breakaways that melted just as soon as they took shape, the day's first climbs have brought some solid structure to the stage. A break of 11 has a lead of two minutes over a peloton that is being towed by the QuickStep-AlphaVinyl squad of Remco Evenepoel.

-74km

Break:

Valentin Paret-Peintre, Nicolas Prodhomme (AG2R Citroën), Sven Erik Bystrøm (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert), Jan Tratnik (Bahrain Victorious), Lars van den Berg, Attila Valter (Groupama-FDJ), Dimitri Claeys (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert), Kenny Molly (Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB), Jan Polanc (UAE Team Emirates), Dani Navarro (Burgos-BH) and Fernando Barcelo (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA)

Peloton at 2:07

-67km

The escapees have crested the summit of the day's third climb, the category 3 haul to Fageca with a gap of 2:20 over the bunch. Polanc was first to the top ahead of Prodhomme and Claeys. 

There was a crash in the peloton a short while ago, meanwhile, and Joey Rosskopf (Human Powered Health), Casper Pedersen (DSM), Ilnur Zakarin (Gazprom-RusVelo) and Matthew Walls (Bora-Hansgrohe) were among those caught up in the incident. 

-65km

The eleven leaders are on the steady drop towards the foot of the category 2 ascent of Benifallim. Their unity may well start to fray on that 11km climb, but for now, they are finding common cause and gently inflating their advantage. 2:34 the gap.

-55km

Break:

Valentin Paret-Peintre, Nicolas Prodhomme (AG2R Citroën), Sven Erik Bystrøm (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert), Jan Tratnik (Bahrain Victorious), Lars van den Berg, Attila Valter (Groupama-FDJ), Dimitri Claeys (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert), Kenny Molly (Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB), Jan Polanc (UAE Team Emirates), Dani Navarro (Burgos-BH) and Fernando Barcelo (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA)

Peloton at 2:05

The lower section of today's finishing climb will be familiar from the Balcon de Alicante stage of last year's Vuelta a España, where Michael Storer took the honours and Primož Roglič buttressed his overall lead. That comes between -9km and -7km from the finish, however, after the race leaves Tibi and before it comes to that gravel sector in the finale, pictured below.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves. The escapees are currently on the lower slopes of the category 2 Benifallim, which yawns upwards for 11km at an average gradient of 4.5%. Their lead over the QuickStep-led peloton holds firm at just over 2 minutes.  

A reminder of the terrain still to come. After Benifallim, the race tackles the category 3 ascent of Tibi (5.5km at 5.3%) ahead of the category 1 haul to the finish at Antenas del Maigmó. The gravel sector has drawn the attention but the statistics are bracing too. It's 5.4km in length at an average of 10.1%.

Aleksandr Vlasov's Bora-Hansgrohe squad have joined QuickStep-AlphaVinyl in setting the tempo at the head of the peloton on the climb of Benifallim. Wilco Kelderman is no longer in the race after he crashed in the finale of yesterday's stage and Matthew Walls has now abandoned following his fall earlier on today's stage. 

-44km

Valentin Paret-Peintre, Nicolas Prodhomme (AG2R Citroën), Sven Erik Bystrøm (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert), Jan Tratnik (Bahrain Victorious), Lars van den Berg, Attila Valter (Groupama-FDJ), Dimitri Claeys (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert), Kenny Molly (Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB), Jan Polanc (UAE Team Emirates), Dani Navarro (Burgos-BH) and Fernando Barcelo (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) are fighting gamely to maintain their advantage on this climb, and they remain two minutes clear of the peloton, where - for now at least - Bora-Hansgrohe and QuickStep-AlphaVinyl are finding common cause. 

-42km

Tratnik and the Groupama-FDJ duo of Valter and Van den Berg lead the break on the upper slopes of the Alto de Benifallim, where their lead has inched out to 2:19. Back in the bunch, meanwhile, some riders are losing contact under the forcing of Bora-Hansgrohe. 

-39km

The break crosses the summit of Benifallim with a lead of 2:40 over the peloton. Molly, Prodhomme and Polanc lost contact with their comrades on the upper slopes and it's not clear if they'll be able to battle their way back on over the other side.

Bystrom was first to the top of Benifallim, incidentally, ahead of Paret-Peintre and Tratnik. Josef Cerny sets the pace in the peloton on behalf of his QuickStep leader Evenepoel.

-33km

Break:

Valentin Paret-Peintre (AG2R Citroën), Sven Erik Bystrøm (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert), Jan Tratnik (Bahrain Victorious), Lars van den Berg, Attila Valter (Groupama-FDJ), Dimitri Claeys (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert), Dani Navarro (Burgos-BH), Fernando Barcelo (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA)

Chasers at 0:20:

Nicolas Prodhomme (AG2R Citroën), Kenny Molly (Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB), Jan Polanc (UAE Team Emirates)

Peloton at 2:17

-29km

The intensity is steadily rising in the peloton and the break's lead is dropping accordingly. 1:56 the gap as QuickStep continue to pile on the pressure. 

-25km

Despite the efforts of Tratnik, Valter et al, the break's lead is slowly contracting, and it now stands at 1:38. 

The descent of Benifallim now complete, the escapees are on a section of road that continues to rise and dip ahead of the penultimate ascent of Tibi. Back in the bunch, Evenpoel sits in 7th place, tucked in behind his QuickStep-AlphaVinyl squad.

Van den Berg and Paret-Peintre are doing their best to breathe some life into this break as they approach Xixona, but the peloton draws inexorably nearer. 1:37 the gap.

-20km

A turn on the front from Tratnik splits the front group just before the climb to Tibi begins. The Slovenian is joined by Valter, Barcelo and Bystrom. 

-18km

Break:

Sven Erik Bystrøm (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert), Jan Tratnik (Bahrain Victorious), Attila Valter (Groupama-FDJ), Fernando Barcelo (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA)

Chasers:

Valentin Paret-Peintre (AG2R Citroën), Lars van den Berg (Groupama-FDJ), Dimitri Claeys (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert), Dani Navarro (Burgos-BH)

Peloton at 1:57

Tratnik hasn't looked for a turn since the climb of Tibi began, and he drops his companions one by one. Bystrom is first to go, then Barcelo and now Valter is unable to match the Slovenian's relentless pace-making.

The remnants of the break, meanwhile, are being swept up by the peloton, which is exactly two minutes down on the lone leader Tratnik, who climbs out of the saddle. Valter battled to stay within touching distance of Tratnik's back wheel, but now he is losing ground with every pedal stroke. 

Bora-Hansgrohe and Israel Start-Up Nation join QuickStep at the head of the peloton. Tratnik, meanwhile, keeps turning his gear over and keeps extending his buffer over Valter. 

-15.5km

A seated Tratnik continues pedalling smoothly and he maintains a lead of 2:09 over the peloton. Valter sticks doggedly to his task and he has clawed back a couple of seconds near the top of the climb. The rest of the break, meanwhile, is beginning to be swept up by the peloton behind.

-14km

Jan Tratnik leads over the climb of Tibi, but Valter managed the climb well and the Hungarian has given himself a reasonable chance of catching back up on the descent. 

QuickStep set the pace on the climb of Tibi in the peloton, with delegations from Astana, Bora and Israel Premier Tech lining up behind them. 

-12km

Break:

Jan Tratnik (Bahrain Victorious)

Chaser:

Attila Valter (Groupama-FDJ)

Peloton at 2:02

-10km

Into the final 10km for Tratnik, who retains a lead of 2:00 over the peloton. Alejandro Valverde and Enric Mas' Movistar squad have taken up the reins of pursuit alongside QuickStep.

Valter looked to be drawing closer to Tratnik on the descent, but he is falling back again as the road climbs ahead of the start of the Antenas del Maigmó proper with 5.4km remaining. 

-8.5km

Tratnik casts a look back over his shoulder, but he won't see Valter again before the finish. The Slovenian's race is now against the peloton, which has closed to within 1:51. 

-7.5km

Tratnik is showing no sign of relenting, but the peloton is starting to chip more substantial chunks off his lead. 1:43 the gap.

Ineos Grenadiers have put their shoulders to the wheel at the head of the peloton as the speed continues to ratchet upwards ahead of the summit finish.

-6km

Tratnik swings left off the main road and onto the lower slopes of the finishing climb to Antenas del Maigmó, which averages some 10.1%. He has 1:29 in hand on the peloton. Valter is somewhere in between.

-5km

The gradient begins to bite and Tratnik's rate of pedalling finally begins to drop. He climbs out of the saddle briefly, but his lead on the bunch has dropped to 1:16. Valter continues his pursuit, but he is struggling to get much closer. 

QuickStep are back in front beneath the 5km banner, with Honoré setting the tempo for Evenepoel, 1:04 down on Tratnik. 

Tratnik's expression starts to betray signs of suffering, as does his pedalling, but he is keeping his gear turning over as the gradient bites. 

Back in the yellow jersey group, Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) accelerates and quickly opens a gap... Will anyone follow or will they wait for the gravel in the final 3km?

Valverde's former teammate Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates) leads the pursuit in the yellow jersey group, which has stretched out but not quite exploded. 

-4.5km

Jan Tratnik remains alone in front, 30 seconds up on Valter and 1:05 ahead of Valverde, who has been joined by 15 or so riders, including - of course - yellow jersey Remco Evenepoel. 

Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) accelerates in the yellow jersey group with Valverde and Pello Bilbao on his wheel. Jakob Fuglsang and Evenepoel are also present, and this yellow jersey group of 15 riders is about to sweep up Valter.

-3km

Tratnik grinds his way up double-digit gradients, but it looks as though he will be caught just as the gravel section begins. Valverde is leading the way in the yellow jersey group...

The gradient is wickedly steep at this juncture and Tratnik is visibly struggling. The pace relents slightly in the yellow jersey group, however, and the Slovenians remains in front, perhaps with 15 or so seconds in hand. 

-2.7km

Tratnik leads onto the gravel sector, and this is where things will get very interesting... 

Fuglsang accelerates on the gravel, with Valverde, Mas and Vlasov on his wheel. Evenepoel looked to have been caught out at first, but he quickly closes the gap in the company of Giulio Ciccone to join up with Fuglsang et al.

-2.2km

Fuglsang continues his forcing on the gravel.  Mas, Vlasov and Evenepoel follow, then Valverde and Ciccone.

-2km

Vlasov accelerates from the front, with Evenepoel and Mas on his wheel. Fuglsang battles his way up shortly afterwards. They have caught and passed the struggling Tranik.

-1.5km

Vlasov kicks again on the gravel and this time he opens a gap over Evenepoel et al. The Russian is alone at the head of the race...

-1.2km

Vlasov comes off the gravel alone at the front of the race, and Remco Evenepoel is betraying signs of suffering. The Belgian can't match Vlasov's pace and now he swings over... He could lose the yellow jersey this evening...

-1km

Vlasov has a winning lead in the final kilometre, while Evenepoel seems to have ground to a halt. The Belgian is unable to hold the wheels in the group of favourites. Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos), meanwhile, has caught and passed Fuglsang, Mas et al after coming off the gravel, and he is destined to take second on the stage.

Aleksandr Vlasov (Bora-Hansgrohe) wins stage 3 of the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana. He will also move into the overall lead.

Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos) takes second at 14 seconds. Enric Mas (Movistar) is third at 21 seconds. Pello Bilbao and Alejandro Valverde come home at 29 seconds. 

Remco Evenepoel crosses the line 8th at 41 seconds and he concedes his yellow jersey to Vlasov. Evenepoel was at the head of the chasing group with Mas, Fuglsang et al beneath the flamme rouge, but he cracked horribly in the final kilometre. He battled to limit his losses as best he could, but he shakes his head as he rolls through the finish area.

Result

1          Aleksandr Vlasov (Rus) Bora – Hansgrohe   4:02:17

2          Carlos Rodriguez (Spa) Ineos Grenadiers      0:00:14

3          Enric Mas (Spa) Movistar Team        0:00:21

4          Pello Bilbao (Spa) Bahrain Victorious           0:00:29

5          Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team

6          Jakob Fulgsang (Den) Israel-Premier Tech    0:00:32

7          Giulio Ciccone (Ita) Trek-Segafredo  0:00:35

8          Remco Evenepoel (Bel) QuickStep-AlphaVinyl       0:00:41

9          Luis León Sánchez (Spa) Bahrain - Victorious                                 

10        David De La Cruz (Spa) Astana Qazaqstan Team     0:00:50

General classification

1          Aleksandr Vlasov (Rus) Bora-Hansgrohe      12:28:39

2          Remco Evenepoel (Bel) Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team       0:00:32

3          Carlos Rodriguez Cano (Spa) Ineos Grenadiers        0:00:36

4          Enric Mas Nicolau (Spa) Movistar Team      0:00:50

5          Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team     0:01:02

6          Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Israel Start-Up Nation 0:01:05

7          Luis Leon Sanchez (Spa) Bahrain Victorious 0:01:14

8          Giulio Ciccone (Ita) Trek-Segafredo  0:01:20

9          Pavel Sivakov (Rus) Ineos Grenadiers           0:02:05

10        David de la Cruz (Spa) Astana Qazaqstan Team       0:02:28

Aleksandr Vlasov on his victory: "Today was super tough. Also, the final climb was pretty steep but I know this is my kind of climb so I was concentrating on it to save as much as possible for the final and just the last kilometres, I did my best."

The Russian added that he had not seen the gravel sector in person beforehand. "I saw it only on the video, this section. It’s pretty hard because there are some parts of the road with big stones. I decided to make the difference on that section," said Vlasov, who takes his first victory since leaving Astana for Bora-Hansgrohe this winter. 4th at last year's Giro, Vlasov is set to make his Tour de France debut this year. 

"I’m super happy. This is my first race and it’s already going very well. Now I’m really part of the team and we can achieve big goals together."