Vuelta Ciclista a La Rioja 2014: Results

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.”

“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.”

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#	Rider Name (Country) Team	Result
1	Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica Greenedge	3:54:34
2	Francesco Lasca (Ita) Caja Rural - Seguros	Row 1 - Cell 2
3	Carlos Barbero (Spa) Euskadi	Row 2 - Cell 2
4	Vicente Garcia (Spa) Louletano - D. Doura	Row 3 - Cell 2
5	Sergey Shilov (Rus) Lokosphinx	Row 4 - Cell 2
6	Jorge Montenegro (Ecu) Louletano - D. Doura	Row 5 - Cell 2
7	Evgeny Shalunov (Rus) Lokosphinx	Row 6 - Cell 2
8	Brett Lancaster (Aus) Orica Greenedge	Row 7 - Cell 2
9	Pablo Lastras (Spa) Movistar Team	Row 8 - Cell 2
10	Jon Aberasturi (Spa) Euskadi	Row 9 - Cell 2
11	Jesus Herrada (Spa) Movistar Team	Row 10 - Cell 2
12	Ibai Salas (Spa) Burgos-Bh	Row 11 - Cell 2
13	Dmitry Sokolov (Rus) Lokosphinx	Row 12 - Cell 2
14	Federico Figueiredo (Por) Radio Popular	Row 13 - Cell 2
15	Alexander Vdovin (Rus) Lokosphinx	Row 14 - Cell 2
16	Pablo Torres (Spa) Burgos-Bh	Row 15 - Cell 2
17	Sergey Vdovin (Rus) Lokosphinx	Row 16 - Cell 2
18	Francisco Moreno (Spa) Louletano - D. Doura	Row 17 - Cell 2
19	Micael Isidoro (Por) Louletano - D. Doura	Row 18 - Cell 2
20	Mikel Aristi (Spa) Euskadi	Row 19 - Cell 2
21	Haritz Orbe (Spa) Euskadi	Row 20 - Cell 2
22	Peio Bilbao (Spa) Caja Rural - Seguros	Row 21 - Cell 2
23	César Fonte (Por) Radio Popular	Row 22 - Cell 2
24	Igor Anton (Spa) Movistar Team	Row 23 - Cell 2
25	Jesus Del Pino (Spa) Burgos-Bh	Row 24 - Cell 2
26	Manuel Sola (Spa) Keith Mobel - Partiz	Row 25 - Cell 2
27	Christian Meier (Can) Orica Greenedge	Row 26 - Cell 2
28	Jose Ragonessi (Ecu) Team Ecuador	Row 27 - Cell 2
29	Esteban Plaza (Spa) Keith Mobel - Partiz	Row 28 - Cell 2
30	Aleksey Rybalkin (Rus) Lokosphinx	Row 29 - Cell 2
31	Daniel Silva (Por) Radio Popular	Row 30 - Cell 2
32	Nuno Matos (Por) Radio Popular	Row 31 - Cell 2
33	Victor Martin (Spa) Burgos-Bh	Row 32 - Cell 2
34	Jaime Roson (Spa) Team Ecuador	Row 33 - Cell 2
35	Segundo Navarrete (Ecu) Team Ecuador	Row 34 - Cell 2
36	Leonidas Novoa (Ecu) Team Ecuador	Row 35 - Cell 2
37	Javier Aramendia (Spa) Caja Rural - Seguros	Row 36 - Cell 2
38	Arkimedes Arguelyes (Rus) Lokosphinx	Row 37 - Cell 2
39	Antonio Cabello (Spa) Team Ecuador	Row 38 - Cell 2
40	Virgilio Santos (Por) Radio Popular	Row 39 - Cell 2
41	Carlos Quisphe (Ecu) Team Ecuador	Row 40 - Cell 2
42	Dario Hernandez (Spa) Burgos-Bh	Row 41 - Cell 2
43	Andreas Keuser (Ger) Keith Mobel - Partiz	Row 42 - Cell 2
44	Hernani Broco (Spa) Louletano - D. Doura	Row 43 - Cell 2
45	Rui Sousa (Por) Radio Popular	Row 44 - Cell 2
46	Igor Merino (Spa) Burgos-Bh	Row 45 - Cell 2
47	Miguel Minguez (Spa) Euskadi	Row 46 - Cell 2
48	Celio Sousa (Por) Radio Popular	Row 47 - Cell 2
49	Michael Albasini (Swi) Orica Greenedge	Row 48 - Cell 2
50	Marcos Garcia (Spa) Caja Rural - Seguros	Row 49 - Cell 2
51	Jon Larrinaga (Spa) Euskadi	Row 50 - Cell 2
52	Victor Etxebarria (Spa) Euskadi	Row 51 - Cell 2
53	Raul Rubio (Spa) Louletano - D. Doura	Row 52 - Cell 2
54	Alvaro Robredo (Spa) Burgos-Bh	0:00:26
55	Sandro Pinto (Por) Louletano - D. Doura	Row 54 - Cell 2
56	Marcos Jurado (Spa) Keith Mobel - Partiz	0:00:28
57	Pieter Weening (Ned) Orica Greenedge	0:00:35
58	Davide Vigano (Ita) Caja Rural - Seguros	0:00:37
59	Luis Mas (Spa) Caja Rural - Seguros	0:01:01
60	Raul Alarcon (Spa) Louletano - D. Doura	0:01:16
61	Antonio Molina (Spa) Caja Rural - Seguros	Row 60 - Cell 2
62	Karol Domagalski (Pol) Caja Rural - Seguros	Row 61 - Cell 2
63	Javier Moreno (Spa) Movistar Team	0:01:26
64	Enrique Sanz (Spa) Movistar Team	Row 63 - Cell 2
65	Illart Zuazubiskar (Spa) Euskadi	0:01:41
66	Jaume Rovira (Spa) Team Ecuador	0:02:01
67	David Belda (Spa) Burgos-Bh	0:02:29
68	Simon Yates (GBr) Orica Greenedge	0:02:52
69	Isaac Carbonell (Spa) Team Ecuador	0:03:13
70	Juan C. Ramirez (Spa) Keith Mobel - Partiz	0:06:29