MADRID, 27 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Colombian cyclist Sergio Higuita (BORA Hansgrohe) has been proclaimed champion of the 101st edition of the Volta a Catalunya after defending his leadership in the seventh and final stage, 138.5 kilometers long with start and finish in Barcelona and in which the Italian Andrea Bagioli (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) took the last partial victory.
The ‘coffee farmer’ runner, who on Saturday snatched the leader’s jersey from the Portuguese Joao Almeida (UAE Emirates), and his team, BORA Hansgrohe, limited themselves to controlling their advantage to prevent the escape of any of the contenders to snatch the title , like the Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz (INEOS Grenadiers).
The breakaway of seven units that was formed in the last of the six climbs to Montjuïc castle, including the Spaniard Marc Soler, was neutralized just one kilometer from the finish line, leading to a sprint finish in which Bagioli prevailed .
After him entered the Hungarian Attila Valter (Groupama-FDJ) and the Spanish Fernando Barceló (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), and then all the favorites, and Higuita certified his first major victory on the world circuit, ahead of Carapaz, 16 seconds.
In addition, Almeida completed the podium of the Catalan round, 52 seconds behind, while the Colombian Nairo Quintana (Team Arkéa-Samsic) and the Spanish Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) entered the ‘Top 5’ of the general classification.
–CLASSIFICATIONS.
-Stage.
.1. Andrea Bagioli (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) 3:18:09.
.2. Attila Valter (HUN/Groupama-FDJ) mt
.3. FERNANDO BARCELÓ (ESP/Caja Rural-Seguros RGA)mt
.4. JUAN AYUSO (ESP/UAE Team Emirates) m.t.
.5. Dylan Teuns (BEL/Bahrain victorious) m.t.
-General.
.1. Sergio Higuita (COL/BORA Hansgrohe) 29:53:33.
.2. Richard Carapaz (ECU/INEOS Grenadiers) a 16.
.3. Joao Almeida (POR/UAE Emirates) 52.
.4. Nairo Quintana (COL/Team Arkéa-Samsic) 53.
.5. JUAN AYUSO (ESP/UAE Team Emirates) 1:08.