Quintana wins Volta a Catalunya

Nairo Quintana (Movistar) has become the third Colombian to win the Volta a Catalunya on Sunday, with the stage victory on a hilly final stage through Montjuic Park in Barcelona going to Katusha’s Alexei Tsatevich, one of the last survivors of a day-long break.

The attacks rained down on Quintana on the eight circuits of the hilly six-kilometre Montjuic circuit, with Fabio Aru (Astana), second placed Alberto Contador (Tinkoff), Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha), Hugh Carthy (Caja Rural) - ninth overall and Best Young Rider - Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing) and Chris Froome (Team Sky) all amongst those attempting to wrench their way clear of Movistar’s grip on the race.

But although Aru opened a gap of 30 seconds at one point and Froome briefly left the rest of the pack reeling in his wake, the attacks cancelled each other out as the finish line steadily approached.

Finally the only alteration in the highest GC positions was Dan Martin (Etixx-QuickStep), who snatched a bonus second early on in the stage in a hot spot sprint. As a result, Martin, already a stage winner and briefly the leader, moved up from fourth to third ahead of BMC Racing’s Richie Porte, Martin’s fourth top-three position in the Volta a Catalunya of his career.

The stage itself saw a break of 12 go clear early on, gaining a maximum advantage of 3:15 when they reached the first of the eight final laps of the Montjuic circuit.

Mallorca’s Lluis Mas (Caja Rural) was the first to go clear from the dozen leaders, with around 48 kilometres to go, followed by former U-23 World Champion Matej Mohoric (Lampre-Merida), whilst Contador briefly tested the water in the bunch a first time, without any effect. Fabio Aru’s drive clear, though, was much more effective, enabling the 2015 Vuelta a España winner to gain up to half a minute after Warren Barguil (Giant-Alpecin) and a perpetually aggressive Louis Vervaecke (Lotto-Soudal) bridged across.

Movistar gradually pegged back the difference but no sooner had they done so than Vasil Kiryenka (Team Sky) opened up the throttle, and Chris Froome followed up his teammate’s lead-out with a searing attack of his own. When Quintana finally reached the Briton with Contador, Martin, Rodriguez and Dani Navarro (Cofidis) in his wake, it looked briefly as if Quintana, isolated from his teammates, could be vulnerable.

But instead, as the leading group of favourites hesitated, the group once again swelled in size, only to see Carthy briefly having a go, but finally being swallowed up by the chasers.

Yet more brief digs followed, but as Mohoric was overtaken by Tcatevich for the stage win, Froome and Contador’s second challenges, followed by one last attack from Dan Martin and a longer move by Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing) all failed to work out. Instead, Quintana crossed the line with his overall lead intact for his first stage race victory since Tirreno-Adriatico in 2015.

Quintana’s final margin of seven seconds is the four smallest in the 96 editions of the Volta a Catalunya, but ever since the Colombian moved into the lead on the stage to Port Ainé, the tide was flowing strongly in his favour.

The final three stages, none of them with exceptionally hilly terrain, made it difficult for the rest of the field to challenge the Colombian, who has become the first winner from Colombia of the race since Hernan Buenahora in 1998.

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Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Aleksei Tsatevich (Rus) Team Katusha3:13:33
2Primoz Roglic (Slo) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 1 - Cell 2
3Jarlinson Pantano (Col) IAM Cycling0:00:14
4Wouter Poels (Ned) Team SkyRow 3 - Cell 2
5Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica-GreenEdgeRow 4 - Cell 2
6Rigoberto Uran (Col) Cannondale Pro CyclingRow 5 - Cell 2
7Rudy Molard (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 6 - Cell 2
8Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 7 - Cell 2
9Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 8 - Cell 2
10Carlos Barbero (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 9 - Cell 2
11Merhawi Kudus (Eri) Dimension DataRow 10 - Cell 2
12Tanel Kangert (Est) Astana Pro TeamRow 11 - Cell 2
13Davide Formolo (Ita) Cannondale Pro CyclingRow 12 - Cell 2
14Daniel Martin (Irl) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 13 - Cell 2
15Sander Armee (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 14 - Cell 2
16Michael Woods (Can) Cannondale Pro CyclingRow 15 - Cell 2
17Davide Rebellin (Ita) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 16 - Cell 2
18Georg Preidler (Aut) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 17 - Cell 2
19Christopher Froome (GBr) Team SkyRow 18 - Cell 2
20Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar TeamRow 19 - Cell 2
21Richie Porte (Aus) BMC Racing TeamRow 20 - Cell 2
22Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R La MondialeRow 21 - Cell 2
23Mikel Nieve (Spa) Team SkyRow 22 - Cell 2
24Ilnur Zakarin (Rus) Team KatushaRow 23 - Cell 2
25Hugh Carthy (GBr) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 24 - Cell 2
26Daniel Navarro (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 25 - Cell 2
27Alberto Contador (Spa) Tinkoff TeamRow 26 - Cell 2
28Tejay Van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing TeamRow 27 - Cell 2
29Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team KatushaRow 28 - Cell 2
30Louis Vervaeke (Bel) Lotto Soudal0:00:23
31Laurens De Plus (Bel) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 30 - Cell 2
32Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 31 - Cell 2
33David Arroyo (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 32 - Cell 2
34Robert Gesink (Ned) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 33 - Cell 2
35Darwin Atapuma (Col) BMC Racing TeamRow 34 - Cell 2
36Warren Barguil (Fra) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 35 - Cell 2
37Andrey Zeits (Kaz) Astana Pro Team0:00:29
38Antonio Molina (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA0:00:39
39Tsgabu Grmay (Eth) Lampre - MeridaRow 38 - Cell 2
40Tobias Ludvigsson (Swe) Team Giant-Alpecin0:01:10
41Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) Dimension Data0:01:14
42Mikael Cherel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:01:32
43Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 42 - Cell 2
44Winner Anacona (Col) Movistar TeamRow 43 - Cell 2
45Pieter Weening (Ned) Roompot - Oranje PelotonRow 44 - Cell 2
46Maurits Lammertink (Ned) Roompot - Oranje PelotonRow 45 - Cell 2
47Kévin Reza (Fra) FDJ0:02:07
48Miguel Angel Lopez (Col) Astana Pro TeamRow 47 - Cell 2
49Bart De Clercq (Bel) Lotto Soudal0:02:30
50Pierre-Henri Lecuisinier (Fra) FDJ0:02:41
51Yury Trofimov (Rus) Tinkoff TeamRow 50 - Cell 2
52Joe Dombrowski (USA) Cannondale Pro CyclingRow 51 - Cell 2
53Mathias Frank (Swi) IAM CyclingRow 52 - Cell 2
54Huub Duijn (Ned) Roompot - Oranje PelotonRow 53 - Cell 2
55Samuel Sanchez (Spa) BMC Racing TeamRow 54 - Cell 2
56Carlos Verona (Spa) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 55 - Cell 2
57Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Trek-SegafredoRow 56 - Cell 2
58Petr Vakoc (Cze) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 57 - Cell 2
59Simon Gerrans (Aus) Orica-GreenEdgeRow 58 - Cell 2
60Luis Mas Bonet (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA0:03:29
61Alexey Vermeulen (USA) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 60 - Cell 2
62Andre Cardoso (Por) Cannondale Pro CyclingRow 61 - Cell 2
63Benjamin King (USA) Cannondale Pro CyclingRow 62 - Cell 2
64Jan Polanc (Slo) Lampre - MeridaRow 63 - Cell 2
65Nathan Brown (USA) Cannondale Pro CyclingRow 64 - Cell 2
66Arnaud Courteille (Fra) FDJ0:03:35
67Nikias Arndt (Ger) Team Giant-Alpecin0:04:14
68Matej Mohoric (Slo) Lampre - Merida0:04:57
69Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica-GreenEdge0:05:25
70Boris Dron (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 69 - Cell 2
71Adam Stachowiak (Pol) Verva ActiveJet Pro Cycling Team0:05:47
72Peter Stetina (USA) Trek-SegafredoRow 71 - Cell 2
73Davide Malacarne (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 72 - Cell 2
74Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 73 - Cell 2
75Koen Bouwman (Ned) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 74 - Cell 2
76Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 75 - Cell 2
77Karel Hnik (Cze) Verva ActiveJet Pro Cycling TeamRow 76 - Cell 2
78Dario Cataldo (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 77 - Cell 2
79Marco Minnaard (Ned) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 78 - Cell 2
80Stéphane Rossetto (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 79 - Cell 2
81Riccardo Zoidl (Aut) Trek-SegafredoRow 80 - Cell 2
82Felix Grosschartner (Aut) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 81 - Cell 2
83Julien Bernard (Fra) Trek-SegafredoRow 82 - Cell 2
84Frederik Veuchelen (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 83 - Cell 2
85Eduard Prades (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 84 - Cell 2
86Amets Txurruka (Spa) Orica-GreenEdgeRow 85 - Cell 2
87Lawrence Warbasse (USA) IAM CyclingRow 86 - Cell 2
88Matvey Mamykin (Rus) Team KatushaRow 87 - Cell 2
89Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Trek-SegafredoRow 88 - Cell 2
90Ben Hermans (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 89 - Cell 2
91Oliver Zaugg (Swi) IAM CyclingRow 90 - Cell 2
92Cameron Meyer (Aus) Dimension DataRow 91 - Cell 2
93Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 92 - Cell 2
94Sébastien Minard (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 93 - Cell 2
95Gianni Meersman (Bel) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 94 - Cell 2
96Tosh Van Der Sande (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 95 - Cell 2
97Ben Gastauer (Lux) AG2R La MondialeRow 96 - Cell 2
98Ruben Plaza (Spa) Orica-GreenEdgeRow 97 - Cell 2
99Kristijan Durasek (Cro) Lampre - MeridaRow 98 - Cell 2
100Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) FDJRow 99 - Cell 2
101Jérémy Maison (Fra) FDJRow 100 - Cell 2
102Ilia Koshevoy (Blr) Lampre - MeridaRow 101 - Cell 2
103Pavel Kochetkov (Rus) Team KatushaRow 102 - Cell 2
104Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 103 - Cell 2
105Rein Taaramae (Est) Team KatushaRow 104 - Cell 2
106Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Team SkyRow 105 - Cell 2
107Sergio Pardilla (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 106 - Cell 2
108Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing TeamRow 107 - Cell 2
109Alex Howes (USA) Cannondale Pro CyclingRow 108 - Cell 2
110Axel Domont (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:06:50
111Bjorn Thurau (Ger) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 110 - Cell 2
112Imanol Erviti Ollo (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 111 - Cell 2
113Jack Haig (Aus) Orica-GreenEdgeRow 112 - Cell 2
114Reinier Honig (Ned) Roompot - Oranje Peloton0:06:54
115Jonas Vangenechten (Bel) IAM Cycling0:07:18
116Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 115 - Cell 2
117Johann Van Zyl (RSA) Dimension Data0:08:18
118Bertjan Lindeman (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo0:08:53
119Martijn Keizer (Ned) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 118 - Cell 2
120Kiel Reijnen (USA) Trek-Segafredo0:09:16
121Sylwester Szmyd (Pol) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 120 - Cell 2
122Lukasz Owsian (Pol) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 121 - Cell 2
123Sindre Skjoestad Lunke (Nor) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 122 - Cell 2
124Johannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 123 - Cell 2
125Jonas Koch (Ger) Verva ActiveJet Pro Cycling TeamRow 124 - Cell 2
126Antwan Tolhoek (Ned) Roompot - Oranje Peloton0:11:07
DNFPhilippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 126 - Cell 2
DNFJavier Moreno (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 127 - Cell 2
DNFDayer Quintana (Col) Movistar TeamRow 128 - Cell 2
DNFMarc Soler (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 129 - Cell 2
DNFAnton Vorobyev (Rus) Team KatushaRow 130 - Cell 2
DNFNicolas Roche (Irl) Team SkyRow 131 - Cell 2
DNFMaxime Bouet (Fra) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 132 - Cell 2
DNFJulian Alaphilippe (Fra) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 133 - Cell 2
DNFJesus Hernandez (Spa) Tinkoff TeamRow 134 - Cell 2
DNF