Izagirre wins Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana

Dylan Groenewegen (Jumbo-Visma) won the final stage of the Vuelta a Comunitat Valenciana. The Dutchman beat Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirates) in the bunch sprint, with stage 2 winner Matteo Trentin (Mitchelton-Scott) rounding out the podium.

Astana’s Ion Izagirre secured overall victory, after avoiding a mass pile-up in the peloton at the end of the stage, seven seconds ahead of Alejandro Valverde (Movistar).

It was a close-run thing at the finish line, with the top three separated by centimetres. The trio of sprinters was among a small group of riders who were at the head of the peloton in the final kilometre, thus avoiding the pile-up that took the majority out of the running for the stage win.

Coming around the final corner and on to the finishing straight, Groenewegen was perhaps the worst-positioned man of the big-name sprinters at the head of the group.

But with Kristoff and Trentin looking to contest the win in the closing metres, the Dutchman timed his burst from Nacer Bouhanni’s (Cofidis) wheel to just about pip the duo to the line.

How it happened

The final stage of the race, extremely short at 88km and pan flat, was always bound to bring a sprint finish. That didn’t deter a group of riders from chancing their arm in the breakaway, though.

Four riders got away after around 10km of racing, with Aaron Van Poucke (Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise), Gotzon Martin (Euskadi), and Alexey Kurbatov (Gazprom-Rusvelo) escaping before Alexis Gougeard (AG2R La Mondiale) joined them soon after.

Their gap maxed out at just over two minutes, but there was never any danger of them staying away until the end. Still, the peloton kept them on a short leash for much of the day, with the gap to the break held within 30 seconds to a minute inside the final 50km.

The peloton, of course, didn’t want to make the catch too early and risk counter-attacks ruining their sprint opportunities. Jumbo-Visma and Team Sky led the charge at the front of the peloton in the closing kilometres, eventually bringing the break back with 12km to go.

It looked set for a mass sprint showdown until a crash in the middle of the peloton put paid to the hopes of many. The GC victory of Izagirre was assured though, with the pile-up coming within the final 3km. However, the Spaniard was one of a few that avoided hitting the tarmac.

Still, a number of sprinters avoided the carnage to contest the win. Luka Mezgec (Mitchelton-Scott) led the small group onto the final straight, with his teammate Matteo Trentin perfectly positioned in his wheel.

Kristoff and Bouhanni lay just behind, while Groenewegen was the seventh man in line. As Kristoff and Trentin launched their sprint to the line, the Dutchman rode Bouhanni’s wheel before powering around the group in the closing metres to take what seemed an unlikely win just seconds before. The win was his first of the season and put the disappointment of stage 2 well and truly behind him.

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) Team Jumbo-Visma1:50:17
2Alexander Kristoff (Nor) UAE Team EmiratesRow 1 - Cell 2
3Matteo Trentin (Ita) Mitchelton-ScottRow 2 - Cell 2
4Luka Mezgec (Slo) Mitchelton-ScottRow 3 - Cell 2
5Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 4 - Cell 2
6Michele Gazzoli (Ita) Kometa Cycling TeamRow 5 - Cell 2
7Sondre Enger (Nor) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 6 - Cell 2
8Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bahrain-MeridaRow 7 - Cell 2
9Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Dimension DataRow 8 - Cell 2
10Giovanni Lonardi (Ita) Nippo-Vini Fantini-FaizaneRow 9 - Cell 2
11Samuel Caldeira (Por) W52-FC PortoRow 10 - Cell 2
12Enrique Sanz Unzue (Spa) Euskadi Basque CountryRow 11 - Cell 2
13Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Movistar TeamRow 12 - Cell 2
14Pim Ligthart (Ned) Direct EnergieRow 13 - Cell 2
15Magnus Cort Nielsen (Den) Astana Pro TeamRow 14 - Cell 2
16Ion Izagirre Insausti (Spa) Astana Pro TeamRow 15 - Cell 2
17Ben Swift (GBr) Team SkyRow 16 - Cell 2
18Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) CCC TeamRow 17 - Cell 2
19Mike Teunissen (Ned) Team Jumbo-VismaRow 18 - Cell 2
20Ivan Garcia Cortina (Spa) Bahrain-MeridaRow 19 - Cell 2
21Timo Roosen (Ned) Team Jumbo-VismaRow 20 - Cell 2
22Stefano Oldani (Ita) Kometa Cycling TeamRow 21 - Cell 2
23Dylan Teuns (Bel) Bahrain-MeridaRow 22 - Cell 2
24Kenneth Vanbilsen (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 23 - Cell 2
25Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 24 - Cell 2
26Cyril Barthe (Fra) Euskadi Basque CountryRow 25 - Cell 2
27Edgar Pinto (Por) W52-FC PortoRow 26 - Cell 2
28Dennis van Winden (Ned) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 27 - Cell 2
29Pello Bilbao Lopez de Armentia (Spa) Astana Pro TeamRow 28 - Cell 2
30Sergio Andres Higuita Garcia (Col) Equipo EuskadiRow 29 - Cell 2
31Garikoitz Bravo Oiarbide (Spa) Euskadi Basque CountryRow 30 - Cell 2
32Jonathan Lastra Martinez (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 31 - Cell 2
33Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) AG2R La MondialeRow 32 - Cell 2
34Geoffrey Bouchard (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 33 - Cell 2
35Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Bel) CCC TeamRow 34 - Cell 2
36Oliver Naesen (Bel) AG2R La MondialeRow 35 - Cell 2
37Julien Duval (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 36 - Cell 2
38Aleksandr Vlasov (Rus) Gazprom–RusveloRow 37 - Cell 2
39Sergei Shilov (Rus) Gazprom–RusveloRow 38 - Cell 2
40Sebastian Mora Vedri (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 39 - Cell 2
41Kevin Deltombe (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 40 - Cell 2
42Steff Cras (Bel) Katusha-AlpecinRow 41 - Cell 2
43Hector Saez Benito (Spa) Euskadi Basque CountryRow 42 - Cell 2
44Mamyr Stash (Rus) Gazprom–RusveloRow 43 - Cell 2
45Ben Hermans (Bel) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 44 - Cell 2
46Jack Haig (Aus) Mitchelton-ScottRow 45 - Cell 2
47Adam Yates (GBr) Mitchelton-ScottRow 46 - Cell 2
48Rui Costa (Por) UAE Team EmiratesRow 47 - Cell 2
49Hermann Pernsteiner (Aut) Bahrain-MeridaRow 48 - Cell 2
50Colin Joyce (USA) Rally UHC CyclingRow 49 - Cell 2
51Hector Carretero (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 50 - Cell 2
52Jose Herrada (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 51 - Cell 2
53Mikel Iturria Segurola (Spa) Euskadi Basque CountryRow 52 - Cell 2
54Jaume Sureda Morey (Spa) Burgos-BHRow 53 - Cell 2
55Angel Madrazo Ruiz (Spa) Burgos-BHRow 54 - Cell 2
56João Rodrigues (Por) W52-FC PortoRow 55 - Cell 2
57Koen Bouwman (Ned) Team Jumbo-VismaRow 56 - Cell 2
58Luis León Sanchez (Spa) Astana Pro TeamRow 57 - Cell 2
59Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Dimension DataRow 58 - Cell 2
60Mikel Alonso Flores (Spa) Equipo EuskadiRow 59 - Cell 2
61Thomas Sprengers (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 60 - Cell 2
62Robin Carpenter (USA) Rally UHC CyclingRow 61 - Cell 2
63Daniel Martin (Irl) UAE Team EmiratesRow 62 - Cell 2
64Diego Rosa (Ita) Team SkyRow 63 - Cell 2
65Luis Angel Mate Mardones (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 64 - Cell 2
66Jesus Herrada (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 65 - Cell 2
67Antonio Carvalho (Por) W52-FC PortoRow 66 - Cell 2
68Amaro Antunes (Por) CCC TeamRow 67 - Cell 2
69David Gonzalez Lopez (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 68 - Cell 2
70Gonzalo Serrano Rodriguez (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 69 - Cell 2
71Lukasz Wisniowski (Pol) CCC TeamRow 70 - Cell 2
72Gijs Van Hoecke (Bel) CCC TeamRow 71 - Cell 2
73Clément Chevrier (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 72 - Cell 2
74Silvan Dillier (Swi) AG2R La MondialeRow 73 - Cell 2
75Lindsay De Vylder (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 74 - Cell 2
76Preben Van Hecke (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 75 - Cell 2
77Joan Bou Company (Spa) Nippo-Vini Fantini-FaizaneRow 76 - Cell 2
78Antonio Jesus Soto Guirao (Spa) Equipo EuskadiRow 77 - Cell 2
79Rafael Valls Ferri (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 78 - Cell 2
80Jhoan Esteban Chaves Rubio (Col) Mitchelton-ScottRow 79 - Cell 2
81Vladislav Kulikov (Rus) Gazprom–RusveloRow 80 - Cell 2
82Guy Sagiv (Isr) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 81 - Cell 2
83Ildar Arslanov (Rus) Gazprom–RusveloRow 82 - Cell 2
84Nicola Bagioli (Ita) Nippo-Vini Fantini-FaizaneRow 83 - Cell 2
85Marco Canola (Ita) Nippo-Vini Fantini-FaizaneRow 84 - Cell 2
86Omar Fraile Matarranz (Spa) Astana Pro TeamRow 85 - Cell 2
87Sergio Samitier Samitier (Spa) Euskadi Basque CountryRow 86 - Cell 2
88Antonio Molina Canet (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 87 - Cell 2
89Diego Rubio Hernandez (Spa) Burgos-BHRow 88 - Cell 2
90Juan Jose Lobato Del Valle (Spa) Nippo-Vini Fantini-FaizaneRow 89 - Cell 2
91Ruben Fernandez (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 90 - Cell 2
92Ricardo Augusto Afonso Vilela (Por) Burgos-BHRow 91 - Cell 2
93Juan Camacho Del Fresno (Spa) Kometa Cycling TeamRow 92 - Cell 2
94Mikel Nieve Iturralde (Spa) Mitchelton-ScottRow 93 - Cell 2
95Salvatore Puccio (Ita) Team SkyRow 94 - Cell 2
96Nelson Oliveira (Por) Movistar TeamRow 95 - Cell 2
97Benjamin King (USA) Dimension DataRow 96 - Cell 2
98Matej Mohoric (Slo) Bahrain-MeridaRow 97 - Cell 2
99Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Dimension DataRow 98 - Cell 2
100Niki Terpstra (Ned) Direct EnergieRow 99 - Cell 2
101Adrien Petit (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 100 - Cell 2
102Raul Alarcon (Spa) W52-FC PortoRow 101 - Cell 2
103Juan Pedro Lopez Perez (Spa) Kometa Cycling TeamRow 102 - Cell 2
104Ruben Plaza (Spa) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 103 - Cell 2
105Svein Tuft (Can) Rally UHC CyclingRow 104 - Cell 2
106Christopher Juul Jensen (Den) Mitchelton-ScottRow 105 - Cell 2
107Davide Cimolai (Ita) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 106 - Cell 2
108Diego Pablo Sevilla Lopez (Spa) Kometa Cycling TeamRow 107 - Cell 2
109Jan Tratnik (Slo) Bahrain-MeridaRow 108 - Cell 2
110Alessandro De Marchi (Ita) CCC TeamRow 109 - Cell 2
111Manuele Mori (Ita) UAE Team EmiratesRow 110 - Cell 2
112Marco Marcato (Ita) UAE Team EmiratesRow 111 - Cell 2
113Fernando Barcelo Aragon (Spa) Euskadi Basque CountryRow 112 - Cell 2
114Carlos Verona (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 113 - Cell 2
115Tony Martin (Ger) Team Jumbo-VismaRow 114 - Cell 2
116Sho Hatsuyama (Jpn) Nippo-Vini Fantini-FaizaneRow 115 - Cell 2
117Awet Andemeskel (Eri) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 116 - Cell 2
118Alexis Gougeard (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 117 - Cell 2
119Michel Ries (Lux) Kometa Cycling TeamRow 118 - Cell 2
120Jay Robert Thomson (RSA) Dimension Data00:02:19
121Lars Bak Ytting (Den) Dimension DataRow 120 - Cell 2
122David De La Cruz Melgarejo (Spa) Team SkyRow 121 - Cell 2
123Gotzon Martin Sanz (Spa) Equipo EuskadiRow 122 - Cell 2
124Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team SkyRow 123 - Cell 2
125Ian Stannard (GBr) Team SkyRow 124 - Cell 2
126Mads Würst Schmidt (Den) Katusha-AlpecinRow 125 - Cell 2
127Dimitri Claeys (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 126 - Cell 2
128José Fernandes Neves (Por) Burgos-BHRow 127 - Cell 2
129Damien Gaudin (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 128 - Cell 2
130Hugo Houle (Can) Astana Pro TeamRow 129 - Cell 2
131Reto Hollenstein (Swi) Katusha-AlpecinRow 130 - Cell 2
132Rick Zabel (Ger) Katusha-AlpecinRow 131 - Cell 2
133Willem Jakobus Smit (RSA) Katusha-AlpecinRow 132 - Cell 2
134José Gonçalves (Por) Katusha-AlpecinRow 133 - Cell 2
135Aleksei Kurbatov (Rus) Gazprom–RusveloRow 134 - Cell 2
136Alexander Evtushenko (Rus) Gazprom–RusveloRow 135 - Cell 2
137Emerson Oronte (USA) Rally UHC CyclingRow 136 - Cell 2
138Jose Antonio Garcia Martin (Spa) Kometa Cycling TeamRow 137 - Cell 2
139Manuel Peñalver Aniorte (Spa) Burgos-BHRow 138 - Cell 2
140Jos van Emden (Ned) Team Jumbo-VismaRow 139 - Cell 2
141Fabien Grellier (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 140 - Cell 2
142Aaron Van Poucke (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 141 - Cell 2
143Christopher Lawless (GBr) Team SkyRow 142 - Cell 2
144Jon Aberasturi Izaga (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 143 - Cell 2
145Jesus Ezquerra Muela (Spa) Burgos-BHRow 144 - Cell 2
146Peio Goikoetxea Goiogana (Spa) Equipo Euskadi00:04:25
147Ibai Azurmendi Sagastibeltza (Spa) Equipo EuskadiRow 146 - Cell 2
148Moreno Moser (Ita) Nippo-Vini Fantini-FaizaneRow 147 - Cell 2
149Kyle Murphy (USA) Rally UHC CyclingRow 148 - Cell 2
150Thomas Boudat (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 149 - Cell 2
151Christophe Noppe (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 150 - Cell 2
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Points Classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) Team Jumbo-Visma25pts
2Alexander Kristoff (Nor) UAE Team Emirates20Row 1 - Cell 3
3Matteo Trentin (Ita) Mitchelton-Scott16Row 2 - Cell 3
4Luka Mezgec (Slo) Mitchelton-Scott14Row 3 - Cell 3
5Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits12Row 4 - Cell 3
6Michele Gazzoli (Ita) Kometa Cycling Team10Row 5 - Cell 3
7Sondre Enger (Nor) Israel Cycling Academy9Row 6 - Cell 3
8Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bahrain-Merida8Row 7 - Cell 3
9Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Dimension Data7Row 8 - Cell 3
10Giovanni Lonardi (Ita) Nippo-Vini Fantini-Faizane6Row 9 - Cell 3
11Samuel Caldeira (Por) W52-FC Porto5Row 10 - Cell 3
12Enrique Sanz Unzue (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country4Row 11 - Cell 3
13Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Movistar Team3Row 12 - Cell 3
14Pim Ligthart (Ned) Direct Energie2Row 13 - Cell 3
15Magnus Cort Nielsen (Den) Astana Pro Team1Row 14 - Cell 3
DNFMerhawi Kudus (Eri) Astana Pro TeamRow 15 - Cell 2 Row 15 - Cell 3
DNFHarry Tanfield (GBr) Katusha-AlpecinRow 16 - Cell 2 Row 16 - Cell 3
DNFMauricio Moreira (Uru) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 17 - Cell 2 Row 17 - Cell 3
DNFDiego Lopez Fuentes (Spa) Equipo EuskadiRow 18 - Cell 2 Row 18 - Cell 3
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Team Classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Team Jumbo-Visma5:30:51
2Bahrain-MeridaRow 1 - Cell 2
3Mitchelton-ScottRow 2 - Cell 2
4Astana Pro TeamRow 3 - Cell 2
5Euskadi Basque CountryRow 4 - Cell 2
6Israel Cycling AcademyRow 5 - Cell 2
7Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 6 - Cell 2
8Movistar TeamRow 7 - Cell 2
9W52-FC PortoRow 8 - Cell 2
10AG2R La MondialeRow 9 - Cell 2
11UAE Team EmiratesRow 10 - Cell 2
12Kometa Cycling TeamRow 11 - Cell 2
13CCC TeamRow 12 - Cell 2
14Gazprom–RusveloRow 13 - Cell 2
15Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 14 - Cell 2
16Dimension DataRow 15 - Cell 2
17Equipo EuskadiRow 16 - Cell 2
18Nippo-Vini Fantini-FaizaneRow 17 - Cell 2
19Team SkyRow 18 - Cell 2
20Sport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 19 - Cell 2
21Burgos-BHRow 20 - Cell 2
22Direct EnergieRow 21 - Cell 2
23Rally UHC CyclingRow 22 - Cell 2
24Katusha-AlpecinRow 23 - Cell 2
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Final General Classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Ion Izagirre Insausti (Spa) Astana Pro Team16:08:44
2Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team0:00:07
3Pello Bilbao Lopez de Armentia (Spa) Astana Pro TeamRow 2 - Cell 2
4Daniel Martin (Irl) UAE Team Emirates0:00:16
5Dylan Teuns (Bel) Bahrain-Merida0:00:18
6Jesus Herrada (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions Credits0:00:29
7Jack Haig (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott0:00:33
8Adam Yates (GBr) Mitchelton-Scott0:00:34
9Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Dimension Data0:00:46
10Rui Costa (Por) UAE Team Emirates0:00:48
11Diego Rosa (Ita) Team Sky0:00:57
12Nelson Oliveira (Por) Movistar Team0:00:59
13Sergio Andres Higuita Garcia (Col) Equipo Euskadi0:01:06
14Ben Hermans (Bel) Israel Cycling Academy0:01:14
15David De La Cruz Melgarejo (Spa) Team Sky0:01:15
16Aleksandr Vlasov (Rus) Gazprom–Rusvelo0:01:17
17Luis León Sanchez (Spa) Astana Pro Team0:01:18
18Alessandro De Marchi (Ita) CCC Team0:01:27
19Steff Cras (Bel) Katusha-Alpecin0:01:45
20Salvatore Puccio (Ita) Team Sky0:01:46
21Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) CCC Team0:01:50
22Ben Swift (GBr) Team Sky0:01:51
23Jonathan Lastra Martinez (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA0:01:58
24Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Dimension Data0:02:02
25Geoffrey Bouchard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:02:10
26Luis Angel Mate Mardones (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 25 - Cell 2
27Marco Canola (Ita) Nippo-Vini Fantini-Faizane0:02:17
28Amaro Antunes (Por) CCC Team0:02:19
29Juan Pedro Lopez Perez (Spa) Kometa Cycling Team0:02:26
30Garikoitz Bravo Oiarbide (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country0:02:30
31Koen Bouwman (Ned) Team Jumbo-Visma0:02:35
32Thomas Sprengers (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise0:02:37
33Edgar Pinto (Por) W52-FC Porto0:02:48
34Hermann Pernsteiner (Aut) Bahrain-Merida0:02:54
35José Gonçalves (Por) Katusha-Alpecin0:03:03
36Matej Mohoric (Slo) Bahrain-Merida0:03:06
37Kevin Deltombe (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise0:03:16
38Nicola Bagioli (Ita) Nippo-Vini Fantini-Faizane0:03:23
39Gonzalo Serrano Rodriguez (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA0:03:42
40Lukasz Wisniowski (Pol) CCC Team0:03:45
41Ivan Garcia Cortina (Spa) Bahrain-Merida0:03:56
42Sergio Samitier Samitier (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country0:04:01
43Silvan Dillier (Swi) AG2R La Mondiale0:04:08
44Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky0:04:27
45Ricardo Augusto Afonso Vilela (Por) Burgos-BH0:04:28
46Mikel Nieve Iturralde (Spa) Mitchelton-Scott0:04:51
47Niki Terpstra (Ned) Direct Energie0:05:03
48Jose Herrada (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 47 - Cell 2
49Ruben Fernandez (Spa) Movistar Team0:05:47
50Colin Joyce (USA) Rally UHC Cycling0:05:58
51Omar Fraile Matarranz (Spa) Astana Pro Team0:06:01
52Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bahrain-Merida0:06:02
53