Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2019 – Stage 7 [FULL RACE]

March 31, 2019

Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2019 – Stage 7 – Barcelona (Montjuïc) : 143,1 km

The 2019 Volta Ciclista a Catalunya hosts a star-studded line-up of climbers, all hoping to capitalise on form that many of them will have brought with them from either Paris-Nice or Tirreno-Adriatico, with many then looking ahead to being in top shape for the Giro d’Italia in May. The big draws at Catalunya this year include a strong British contingent, made up of Team Sky’s Chris Froome and the Yates twins – Simon and Adam – from Mitchelton-Scott, plus 23-year-old James Knox, who lines up for Deceuninck-QuickStep.

Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana Pro Team) clinched one of the hardest-fought Volta a Catalunya races of recent years on Sunday after a tough final stage where the Colombian came under constant attacks but could finally cross the line victorious.

In the lead since he won on Wednesday’s second summit finish of the Volta, at La Molina, López went into Sunday’s traditionally fraught stage around the Montjuic park in Barcelona with a slender 14 second GC advantage over Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott).

Yates launched a devastating attack with 20 kilometres to go, opening up a margin of nearly 40 seconds, as he and his brother Simon, who worked ferociously alongside him, drove hard to stay clear.

The GC challenge forced López and Astana to chase, with some support from Team Sky, riding for third-placed Egan Bernal, and the group finally reformed on the final lap despite a final attack by Bernal.

The stage win finally went to lone breakaway Davide Formolo (Bora-hansgrohe), claiming his team’s second victory in three days in the Volta, both from long-distance moves.

“I didn’t panic, the team didn’t panic and we got the win,” López said afterwards.

“It’s been a hard battle, but I was very motivated.” He dedicated the win to his wife and soon-to-be-born son.

The stage was blighted by a major crash in the finale, with Romain Bardet, Tony Gallopin (both AG2R-La Mondiale), Marc Soler (Movistar), Warren Barguil (Arkea-Samsic) and Simon Geschke (CCC Team) amongst the dozen or so affected.

“We were coming down a descent at 70kph, and it all happened really fast,” Gallopin, whose shoulder took a bad blow, said later.

“I went spinning onto the pavement and my bike went over the top of me. Given how violent that all was, it could have been a lot worse.”

Whilst CCC said Geschke, one of the riders who stayed longest on the ground, had been taken to hospital for X-rays along with Garikotiz Bravo (Euskadi-Murias), Bardet has possible damage to his ribs and will have further check-ups next week.

The traditionally fast and furious stage around the Montjuic circuit started with 12 riders, including stage 1 breakaway winner Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Soudal), gaining around two minutes before Mitchelton-Scott began to reel them in. De Gendt sealed his King of the Mountains classification on an early climb, but as soon as the race roared back into Barcelona and onto the Montjuic Park circuit Formolo went clear from the break.

After Chris Froome (Team Sky) did his almost-traditional early drive at the front of the pack, the action in a nervous-looking bunch kicked off when Quintana, fourth overall, went clear with half a dozen other riders, including Team EF’s Michael Woods. Briefly supported by teammate Carlos Verona (Movistar) and with Astana chasing behind, no sooner had Quintana’s move fizzled out than Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott), the winner last year, blasted away.

Rather than try and repeat his stage win of 2018, Simon Yates’ move was in fact designed to act as a bridge for brother and teammate Adam Yates, second overall, to come across. The two worked well together, with the presence of James Knox (Deceuninck-Quick Step), previously present in the break, briefly making for an all-British trio off the front behind Formolo.

Adam Yates then left his brother and Knox behind as the gap soared to roughly 40 seconds, despite Astana’s best efforts behind. It was only when Miguel Angel López took over, and then Pavel Sivakov (Team Sky) drove hard behind, that Yates dangerous breakaway began to lose any chance of staying away.

As Yates was reeled in, the last minute moves behind began, with Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) darting away to huge cheers but little effect, then Bernal and – again – Quintana – trying to dislodge López. But ‘Superman’ was determined not to let the GC go and after handling these moves in person, the Astana racer crossed the line in a group of 11 chasers, in 13th place, but with the overall win in the bag. Adam Yates finally had to settle for second and Bernal third, in what has proved to be a truly spectacular edition of the Volta a Catalunya.

Results :
1 Davide Formolo (Ita) Bora-Hansgrohe 3:19:41
2 Enric Mas (Spa) Deceuninck-QuickStep 0:00:51
3 Maximilian Schachmann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:53
4 Dion Smith (NZl) Mitchelton-Scott 0:00:55
5 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team
6 Egan Bernal (Col) Team Sky
7 Adam Yates (GBr) Mitchelton-Scott
8 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team
9 Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Team Jumbo-Visma
10 Michael Woods (Can) EF Education First
11 Rafal Majka (Pol) Bora-Hansgrohe
12 Thibaut Pinot (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
13 Miguel Angel Lopez (Col) Astana Pro Team
14 Guillaume Martin (Fra) Wanty-Gobert
15 Odd Christian Eiking (Nor) Wanty-Gobert 0:01:49
16 James Knox (GBr) Deceuninck-QuickStep
17 Hermann Pernsteiner (Aut) Bahrain-Merida
18 Darwin Atapuma (Col) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
19 Bjorg Lambrecht (Bel) Lotto Soudal
20 Maurits Lammertink (Ned) Roompot-Charles
21 Tobias Ludvigsson (Swe) Groupama-FDJ 0:02:25
22 Fabien Doubey (Fra) Wanty-Gobert
23 Giulio Ciccone (Ita) Trek-Segafredo
24 Luis Angel Mate Mardones (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
25 Michael Matthews (Aus) Team Sunweb
26 François Bidard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
27 Esteban Chaves (Col) Mitchelton-Scott
28 Fernando Barcelo Aragon (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country-Murias
29 Daryl Impey (RSA) Mitchelton-Scott
30 Patrick Bevin (NZl) CCC Team
31 Sebastian Henao (Col) Team Sky
32 Joe Dombrowski (USA) EF Education First
33 Pavel Sivakov (Rus) Team Sky
34 Thomas Degand (Bel) Wanty-Gobert
35 Marco Minnaard (Ned) Wanty-Gobert
36 Simon Yates (GBr) Mitchelton-Scott
37 Nathan Brown (USA) EF Education First
38 Petr Vakoc (Cze) Deceuninck-QuickStep
39 Anthony Delaplace (Fra) Arkéa Samsic
40 Ben Gastauer (Lux) AG2R La Mondiale
41 Tanel Kangert (Est) EF Education First
42 Andrey Amador (CRc) Movistar Team
43 Amael Moinard (Fra) Arkéa Samsic
44 Pello Bilbao (Spa) Astana Pro Team 0:02:56
45 Andrey Zeits (Kaz) Astana Pro Team 0:04:22
46 Jan Bakelants (Bel) Team Sunweb 0:05:06
47 Jesus Herrada (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions Credits 0:05:57
48 Nick van der Lijke (Ned) Roompot-Charles 0:06:38
49 Aleksandr Riabushenko (Blr) UAE Team Emirates
50 Oscar Riesebeek (Ned) Roompot-Charles
51 Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Lotto Soudal
52 Mikel Iturria Segurola (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country-Murias
53 Niklas Eg (Den) Trek-Segafredo
54 Peter Stetina (USA) Trek-Segafredo
55 Imanol Erviti (Spa) Movistar Team
56 Ilnur Zakarin (Rus) Katusha-Alpecin
57 Mikel Bizkarra Etxegibel (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country-Murias
58 Geoffrey Bouchard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
59 Danilo Wyss (Swi) Dimension Data
60 Carlos Verona (Spa) Movistar Team
61 Ricardo Vilela (Por) Burgos-BH
62 Pieter Weening (Ned) Roompot-Charles
63 Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Soudal
64 Floris De Tier (Bel) Team Jumbo-Visma
65 Riccardo Zoidl (Aut) CCC Team
66 Kevin Ledanois (Fra) Arkéa Samsic
67 Davide Villella (Ita) Astana Pro Team
68 Laurens ten Dam (Ned) CCC Team
69 Alexis Gougeard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
70 Gregor Mühlberger (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe
71 Sébastien Reichenbach (Swi) Groupama-FDJ
72 Damiano Caruso (Ita) Bahrain-Merida
73 Grega Bole (Slo) Bahrain-Merida
74 Jonnathan Narvaez (Ecu) Team Sky
75 Ivan Sosa (Col) Team Sky
76 Lennard Kämna (Ger) Team Sunweb
77 Rob Power (Aus) Team Sunweb
78 Mathias De Witte (Bel) Roompot-Charles 0:10:07
79 Antoine Duchesne (Can) Groupama-FDJ 0:12:07
80 Brice Feillu (Fra) Arkéa Samsic
81 Kilian Frankiny (Swi) Groupama-FDJ
82 Jonas Gregaard Wilsly (Den) Astana Pro Team
83 Matteo Fabbro (Ita) Katusha-Alpecin
84 Daniel Navarro Garcia (Spa) Katusha-Alpecin
85 Tsgabu Grmay (Eth) Mitchelton-Scott
86 Cristian Camilo Muñoz Lancheros (Col) UAE Team Emirates
87 Sander Armee (Bel) Lotto Soudal
88 Sergio Samitier Samitier (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country-Murias
89 Richie Porte (Aus) Trek-Segafredo
90 Simone Petilli (Ita) UAE Team Emirates
91 Antonio Nibali (Ita) Bahrain-Merida
92 Lennard Hofstede (Ned) Team Jumbo-Visma
93 Rory Sutherland (Aus) UAE Team Emirates 0:12:21
94 Chris Froome (GBr) Team Sky
95 Andrea Garosio (Ita) Bahrain-Merida
96 Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier (Eri) Dimension Data
97 Daniel Martin (Irl) UAE Team Emirates
98 Edward Ravasi (Ita) UAE Team Emirates
99 Richard Carapaz (Ecu) Movistar Team
100 Merhawi Kudus (Eri) Astana Pro Team
DNF Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Lotto Soudal
DNF Mikel Iturria Segurola (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country-Murias
DNF Niklas Eg (Den) Trek-Segafredo
DNF Peter Stetina (USA) Trek-Segafredo
DNF Imanol Erviti (Spa) Movistar Team
DNF Ilnur Zakarin (Rus) Katusha-Alpecin
DNF Mikel Bizkarra Etxegibel (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country-Murias
DNF Geoffrey Bouchard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
DNF Danilo Wyss (Swi) Dimension Data
DNF Carlos Verona (Spa) Movistar Team
DNF Ricardo Vilela (Por) Burgos-BH
DNF Pieter Weening (Ned) Roompot-Charles
DNF Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Soudal
DNF Floris De Tier (Bel) Team Jumbo-Visma
DNF Riccardo Zoidl (Aut) CCC Team
DNF Kevin Ledanois (Fra) Arkéa Samsic
DNF Davide Villella (Ita) Astana Pro Team
DNF Laurens ten Dam (Ned) CCC Team
DNF Alexis Gougeard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
DNF Gregor Mühlberger (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe
DNF Sébastien Reichenbach (Swi) Groupama-FDJ
DNF Damiano Caruso (Ita) Bahrain-Merida
DNF Grega Bole (Slo) Bahrain-Merida
DNF Jonnathan Narvaez (Ecu) Team Sky
DNF Ivan Sosa (Col) Team Sky
DNF Lennard Kämna (Ger) Team Sunweb
DNF Rob Power (Aus) Team Sunweb
DNF Mathias De Witte (Bel) Roompot-Charles
DNF Antoine Duchesne (Can) Groupama-FDJ
DNF Brice Feillu (Fra) Arkéa Samsic
DNF Kilian Frankiny (Swi) Groupama-FDJ
DNF Jonas Gregaard Wilsly (Den) Astana Pro Team
DNF Matteo Fabbro (Ita) Katusha-Alpecin
DNF Daniel Navarro Garcia (Spa) Katusha-Alpecin
DNF Tsgabu Grmay (Eth) Mitchelton-Scott
DNF Cristian Camilo Muñoz Lancheros (Col) UAE Team Emirates
DNF Sander Armee (Bel) Lotto Soudal
DNF Sergio Samitier Samitier (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country-Murias
DNF Richie Porte (Aus) Trek-Segafredo
DNF Simone Petilli (Ita) UAE Team Emirates
DNF Antonio Nibali (Ita) Bahrain-Merida
DNF Lennard Hofstede (Ned) Team Jumbo-Visma
DNF Rory Sutherland (Aus) UAE Team Emirates
DNF Chris Froome (GBr) Team Sky
DNF Andrea Garosio (Ita) Bahrain-Merida
DNF Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier (Eri) Dimension Data
DNF Daniel Martin (Irl) UAE Team Emirates
DNF Edward Ravasi (Ita) UAE Team Emirates
DNF Richard Carapaz (Ecu) Movistar Team
DNF Merhawi Kudus (Eri) Astana Pro Team

Final General Classification :
1 Miguel Angel Lopez (Col) Astana Pro Team 29:14:17
2 Adam Yates (GBr) Mitchelton-Scott 0:00:14
3 Egan Bernal (Col) Team Sky 0:00:17
4 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team 0:00:25
5 Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Team Jumbo-Visma 0:00:56
6 Michael Woods (Can) EF Education First 0:01:42
7 Rafal Majka (Pol) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:02:27
8 Guillaume Martin (Fra) Wanty-Gobert 0:02:41
9 Enric Mas (Spa) Deceuninck-QuickStep 0:02:49
10 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team 0:03:02
11 Thibaut Pinot (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
12 Maximilian Schachmann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:03:15
13 Simon Yates (GBr) Mitchelton-Scott 0:04:15
14 Hermann Pernsteiner (Aut) Bahrain-Merida 0:05:42
15 Odd Christian Eiking (Nor) Wanty-Gobert 0:07:07
16 Darwin Atapuma (Col) Cofidis, Solutions Credits 0:07:51
17 Ilnur Zakarin (Rus) Katusha-Alpecin 0:08:38
18 Luis Angel Mate Mardones (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions Credits 0:08:53
19 Damiano Caruso (Ita) Bahrain-Merida 0:10:05
20 Davide Formolo (Ita) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:10:40
21 Joe Dombrowski (USA) EF Education First 0:11:03
22 Andrey Zeits (Kaz) Astana Pro Team 0:11:17
23 Daniel Martin (Irl) UAE Team Emirates 0:12:12
24 Fabien Doubey (Fra) Wanty-Gobert 0:13:11
25 James Knox (GBr) Deceuninck-QuickStep 0:13:55
26 Richard Carapaz (Ecu) Movistar Team 0:14:15
27 Merhawi Kudus (Eri) Astana Pro Team 0:15:57
28 Pello Bilbao (Spa) Astana Pro Team 0:16:10
29 Giulio Ciccone (Ita) Trek-Segafredo 0:17:20
30 Pavel Sivakov (Rus) Team Sky 0:18:19
31 Laurens ten Dam (Ned) CCC Team 0:19:40
32 Patrick Bevin (NZl) CCC Team 0:20:31
33 Sébastien Reichenbach (Swi) Groupama-FDJ 0:21:01
34 Esteban Chaves (Col) Mitchelton-Scott 0:22:20
35 Riccardo Zoidl (Aut) CCC Team 0:22:24
36 Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Lotto Soudal 0:23:40
37 Thomas Degand (Bel) Wanty-Gobert 0:24:55
38 Richie Porte (Aus) Trek-Segafredo 0:24:57
39 Gregor Mühlberger (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:24:58
40 Tanel Kangert (Est) EF Education First 0:25:25
41 Ivan Sosa (Col) Team Sky 0:26:07
42 Jesus Herrada (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions Credits 0:26:47
43 Mikel Bizkarra Etxegibel (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country-Murias 0:26:57
44 Bjorg Lambrecht (Bel) Lotto Soudal 0:27:32
45 Davide Villella (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:28:39
46 Daniel Navarro Garcia (Spa) Katusha-Alpecin 0:29:46
47 Floris De Tier (Bel) Team Jumbo-Visma 0:30:03
48 Simone Petilli (Ita) UAE Team Emirates 0:30:15
49 Sebastian Henao (Col) Team Sky 0:30:41
50 Marco Minnaard (Ned) Wanty-Gobert 0:31:36
51 Tsgabu Grmay (Eth) Mitchelton-Scott 0:32:49
52 Carlos Verona (Spa) Movistar Team 0:35:23
53 Fernando Barcelo Aragon (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country-Murias 0:36:30
54 Dion Smith (NZl) Mitchelton-Scott 0:36:47
55 Ben Gastauer (Lux) AG2R La Mondiale 0:36:50
56 Tobias Ludvigsson (Swe) Groupama-FDJ 0:38:08
57 François Bidard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:38:41
58 Cristian Camilo Muñoz Lancheros (Col) UAE Team Emirates 0:38:50
59 Michael Matthews (Aus) Team Sunweb 0:41:51
60 Lennard Hofstede (Ned) Team Jumbo-Visma 0:42:18
61 Peter Stetina (USA) Trek-Segafredo 0:42:22
62 Kevin Ledanois (Fra) Arkéa Samsic 0:42:28
63 Jonnathan Narvaez (Ecu) Team Sky 0:43:25
64 Amael Moinard (Fra) Arkéa Samsic 0:43:53
65 Jan Bakelants (Bel) Team Sunweb 0:44:28
66 Daryl Impey (RSA) Mitchelton-Scott 0:44:30
67 Andrea Garosio (Ita) Bahrain-Merida 0:44:39
68 Ricardo Vilela (Por) Burgos-BH 0:46:38
69 Maurits Lammertink (Ned) Roompot-Charles 0:47:12
70 Nick van der Lijke (Ned) Roompot-Charles 0:47:14
71 Matteo Fabbro (Ita) Katusha-Alpecin 0:47:32
72 Edward Ravasi (Ita) UAE Team Emirates
73 Grega Bole (Slo) Bahrain-Merida 0:47:36
74 Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Soudal 0:48:05
75 Nathan Brown (USA) EF Education First 0:50:39
76 Geoffrey Bouchard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
77 Niklas Eg (Den) Trek-Segafredo 0:54:00
78 Pieter Weening (Ned) Roompot-Charles 0:55:29
79 Mikel Iturria Segurola (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country-Murias 0:56:48
80 Lennard Kämna (Ger) Team Sunweb 0:57:22
81 Brice Feillu (Fra) Arkéa Samsic 0:58:50
82 Mathias De Witte (Bel) Roompot-Charles 0:59:18
83 Antonio Nibali (Ita) Bahrain-Merida 1:01:53
84 Andrey Amador (CRc) Movistar Team 1:03:05
85 Imanol Erviti (Spa) Movistar Team 1:03:43
86 Kilian Frankiny (Swi) Groupama-FDJ 1:03:57
87 Rory Sutherland (Aus) UAE Team Emirates 1:05:25
88 Jonas Gregaard Wilsly (Den) Astana Pro Team 1:06:17
89 Oscar Riesebeek (Ned) Roompot-Charles 1:06:29
90 Anthony Delaplace (Fra) Arkéa Samsic 1:08:09
91 Alexis Gougeard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 1:14:31
92 Aleksandr Riabushenko (Blr) UAE Team Emirates 1:14:57
93 Danilo Wyss (Swi) Dimension Data 1:15:01
94 Chris Froome (GBr) Team Sky 1:18:04
95 Petr Vakoc (Cze) Deceuninck-QuickStep 1:18:17
96 Sander Armee (Bel) Lotto Soudal 1:23:06
97 Sergio Samitier Samitier (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country-Murias 1:25:13
98 Antoine Duchesne (Can) Groupama-FDJ 1:30:58
99 Rob Power (Aus) Team Sunweb 1:34:01
100 Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier (Eri) Dimension Data 1:43:25