Volta a Catalunya 2015: Valverde sprints to win

Stage 2 of the Volta a Catalunya leads in 191.8 rainy kilometres to Olot, near the Pyrenees. A break of four is reeled in with 20 kilometres left. The closing climb with 6 kilometres left proves to be a sprinter's logjam and Alejandro Valverde takes advantages by speeding to victory. Maciej Paterski retains the overall lead. (Slideshow route/profile)

Volta a Catalunya 2015: Race results stage 2

1. Alejandro Valverde (spa)
2. Jose Joaquin Rojas (spa) s.t.
3. Martin Elmiger (aut) s.t.
4. Jonathan Hivert (fra) s.t.
5. Wilco Kelderman (nld) s.t.
6. Julien Simon (fra) s.t.
7. Eduard Prades (spa) s.t.
8. Fabio Silvestre (por) s.t.
9. Pavel Kochetkov (rus) s.t.
10. Davide Malacarne (ita) s.t.

GC after stage 2
1. Maciej Paterski (pol)
2. Pierre Rolland (fra) + 0.04
3. Bart De Clercq (bel) + 0.08
4. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 2.40
5. Jose Joaquin Rojas (spa) + 2.44
6. Martin Elmiger (aut) + 2.46
7. Wout Poels (nld) + 2.47
8. Nicolas Roche (irl) + 2.48
9. Daniel Martin (irl) + 2.49
10. Julien Simon (fra) + 2.50

Race report
It’s wet in Catalunya when Tom Stamsnijder, Sam Bewley and Heiner Parra attack early in the race. The latter doesn’t make it to the actual break, he is replaced by Tsgabu Grmay and Lluis Mas. The four escapees race to a 4 minutes gap and there it lingers.

With 25 km’s left it’s almost over for the break. Stamsnijder and Bewley call it day, while the other two plough on. Lluis Mass even thinks the time is right to go solo, but not for long since the pack is back together again with 16 km’s left.

Lots of sprinters are dropped at the closing climb, crested with 6 km’s left. That paves the way for Alejandro Valverde, always keen to win and that’s exactly what the Spaniard is doing on the slightly rising finish in Olot.