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March 26, 2016
Volta a Catalunya [Stage 6] – Sant Joan Despí – Vilanova i la Geltrú – 197,2km
The sixth stage of the Volta a Catalunya was again a fast affair,
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March 26, 2016
Volta a Catalunya [Stage 6] – Sant Joan Despí – Vilanova i la Geltrú – 197,2km
The sixth stage of the Volta a Catalunya was again a fast affair, with riders fighting to get in the early break of the day only for the peloton to chased them down as riders well placed overall fought for precious bonus seconds at an early intermediate sprint, placed after just 12km.
Davide Cimolai snatch victory for the Lampre-Merida team at the end of a hectic chase of the breakaway to Vilanova i la Geltrú at the Volta a Catalunya during stage 6.
The Italian won the sprint after Cameron Meyer (Dimension Data) was caught and passed in the final hundred metres of the stage. He had been part of the break of the day that fought hard to stay away and was only pulled back in the final kilometre. Meyer used his track speed and skills to surge away but the peloton caught him just in time for Cimolai to emerge to give Lampre-Merida their first victory of the 2016 season.
Cimolai beat Nikias Arndt (Giant-Alpecin), Tosh Van der Sande (Lotto Soudal) and Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEdge) as the riders fought shoulder to shoulder to find a way to the line.
Nairo Quintana (Movistar) finished safely in the peloton and so retained his overall race lead. Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) is second at seven seconds, with Richie Porte (BMC) third at 17 seconds and Daniel Martin (Etixx-Quickstep) fourth, at 18 seconds.
The Volta a Catalunya ends on Sunday with a 136km hilly circuit stage around Barcelona’s Montjuïc area, that hosted the 1992 Olympic Games.
How it happened
Five riders formed a good move but the peloton pulled them back and Dan Martin (Etixx-QuickStep) won the sprint ahead of Philippe Gilbert, who was protecting the interests of teammate and third overall Richie Porte.
Other riders quickly attacked but the peloton chased them again and the 11-rider break only got away after 65km of fast and aggressive racing.
In the move were Petr Vakoc (Etixx-QuickStep), Esteban Chaves (Orica-GreenEdge), Laurens Ten Dam (Giant-Alpecin), Ryder Hesjedal (Trek-Segafredo), Bert-Jan Lindeman (LottoNL-Jumbo), Alex Howes (Cannondale), Cameron Meyer (Dimension Data), Axel Domont (AG2R-La Mondiale), Romain Hardy (Cofidis), Rudy Molard (Cofidis), Marco Minnaard (Wanty-Groupe Gobert).
The move was serious about its intentions and opened a five-minute gap but so was the Lampre-Merida team that lead the chase for the rest of the stage and kept the break within reach. The climbs and speed gradually took their toll on the break, with several riders either falling out the back or being ordered to return to the peloton during another hard day of racing, including Hesjedal and Howes.
In the final 30km, Trek-Segafredo decided to help Lampre-Merida, and Tinkoff also hit the front after a careful recon of the finale. However the side winds and Tinkoff attack failed to split the peloton or pull back the remaining nine riders up front, with the gap still 40 seconds, with only 15km remaining.
Vakoc decided to hit out alone but was soon pulled back and the remains of the break worked together to try to surprise the peloton. Their lead fell only gradually and was still 20 seconds with seven kilometres to go. The sprinters’ teams thought they had things under control but Vakoc attacked again and dragged Molard, Meyer and Lindeman clear.
Inside the final five kilometres the peloton could see the quartet but they kept pushing and some how made it inside the final kilometre. Vakoc again refused to surrender, even as the peloton came together, and then Meyer hit out alone using his track skills to up the speed and dive through a last corner.
He could see the finish and was cheered on by the crowds but then the peloton was on him and he sat up, caught only 100 metres or so from the line. At that point Cimolai emerged from the chaos and managed to hit the front as the line approached. He was overjoyed to win and take Lampre-Merida’s first win of the 2016 season.
Results
1 Davide Cimolai (Ita) Lampre – Merida 4:35:13
2 Nikias Arndt (Ger) Team Giant-Alpecin
3 Tosh Van Der Sande (Bel) Lotto Soudal
4 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge
5 Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica-GreenEdge
6 Petr Vakoc (Cze) Etixx – Quick-Step
7 Aleksei Tsatevich (Rus) Team Katusha
8 Jonas Vangenechten (Bel) IAM Cycling
9 Bertjan Lindeman (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo
10 Lorenzo Manzin (Fra) FDJ
General classification after stage 4
1 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team 19:01:43
2 Alberto Contador (Spa) Tinkoff Team 0:00:08
3 Richie Porte (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:00:17
4 Daniel Martin (Irl) Etixx – Quick-Step 0:00:24
5 Tejay Van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team 0:00:27
6 Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:00:32
7 Ilnur Zakarin (Rus) Team Katusha 0:00:42
8 Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky 0:00:46
9 Hugh Carthy (GBr) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 0:01:01
10 Rigoberto Uran (Col) Cannondale Pro Cycling 0:01:16
 was caught and passed in the final hundred metres of the stage. He had been part of the break of the day that fought hard to stay away and was only pulled back in the final kilometre. Meyer used his track speed and skills to surge away but the peloton caught him just in time for Cimolai to emerge to give Lampre-Merida their first victory of the 2016 season.
Cimolai beat Nikias Arndt (Giant-Alpecin), Tosh Van der Sande (Lotto Soudal) and Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEdge) as the riders fought shoulder to shoulder to find a way to the line.
Nairo Quintana (Movistar) finished safely in the peloton and so retained his overall race lead. Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) is second at seven seconds, with Richie Porte (BMC) third at 17 seconds and Daniel Martin (Etixx-Quickstep) fourth, at 18 seconds.
The Volta a Catalunya ends on Sunday with a 136km hilly circuit stage around Barcelona’s Montjuïc area, that hosted the 1992 Olympic Games.
<strong>How it happened</strong>
Five riders formed a good move but the peloton pulled them back and Dan Martin (Etixx-QuickStep) won the sprint ahead of Philippe Gilbert, who was protecting the interests of teammate and third overall Richie Porte.
Other riders quickly attacked but the peloton chased them again and the 11-rider break only got away after 65km of fast and aggressive racing.
In the move were Petr Vakoc (Etixx-QuickStep), Esteban Chaves (Orica-GreenEdge), Laurens Ten Dam (Giant-Alpecin), Ryder Hesjedal (Trek-Segafredo), Bert-Jan Lindeman (LottoNL-Jumbo), Alex Howes (Cannondale), Cameron Meyer (Dimension Data), Axel Domont (AG2R-La Mondiale), Romain Hardy (Cofidis), Rudy Molard (Cofidis), Marco Minnaard (Wanty-Groupe Gobert).
The move was serious about its intentions and opened a five-minute gap but so was the Lampre-Merida team that lead the chase for the rest of the stage and kept the break within reach. The climbs and speed gradually took their toll on the break, with several riders either falling out the back or being ordered to return to the peloton during another hard day of racing, including Hesjedal and Howes.
In the final 30km, Trek-Segafredo decided to help Lampre-Merida, and Tinkoff also hit the front after a careful recon of the finale. However the side winds and Tinkoff attack failed to split the peloton or pull back the remaining nine riders up front, with the gap still 40 seconds, with only 15km remaining.
Vakoc decided to hit out alone but was soon pulled back and the remains of the break worked together to try to surprise the peloton. Their lead fell only gradually and was still 20 seconds with seven kilometres to go. The sprinters’ teams thought they had things under control but Vakoc attacked again and dragged Molard, Meyer and Lindeman clear.
Inside the final five kilometres the peloton could see the quartet but they kept pushing and some how made it inside the final kilometre. Vakoc again refused to surrender, even as the peloton came together, and then Meyer hit out alone using his track skills to up the speed and dive through a last corner.
He could see the finish and was cheered on by the crowds but then the peloton was on him and he sat up, caught only 100 metres or so from the line. At that point Cimolai emerged from the chaos and managed to hit the front as the line approached. He was overjoyed to win and take Lampre-Merida’s first win of the 2016 season.
<strong><span style="line-height: 1.5;">Results</span></strong>
1 Davide Cimolai (Ita) Lampre - Merida 4:35:13
2 Nikias Arndt (Ger) Team Giant-Alpecin
3 Tosh Van Der Sande (Bel) Lotto Soudal
4 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge
5 Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica-GreenEdge
6 Petr Vakoc (Cze) Etixx - Quick-Step
7 Aleksei Tsatevich (Rus) Team Katusha
8 Jonas Vangenechten (Bel) IAM Cycling
9 Bertjan Lindeman (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo
10 Lorenzo Manzin (Fra) FDJ
<h4>General classification after stage 4</h4>
1 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team 19:01:43
2 Alberto Contador (Spa) Tinkoff Team 0:00:08
3 Richie Porte (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:00:17
4 Daniel Martin (Irl) Etixx - Quick-Step 0:00:24
5 Tejay Van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team 0:00:27
6 Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:00:32
7 Ilnur Zakarin (Rus) Team Katusha 0:00:42
8 Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky 0:00:46
9 Hugh Carthy (GBr) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 0:01:01
10 Rigoberto Uran (Col) Cannondale Pro Cycling 0:01:16)
