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.
Volta a Catalunya 2015 stage 2: Route/profile and more
Click on the images to zoom
Alejandro Valverde
Watch the highlights of recent races here:
Related articles Favourites - Volta a Catalunya 2015 Overview - Volta a Catalunya 2015 Valverde stage, Porte Catalunya - Volta a Catalunya 2015 Sergey Chernetskiy wins stage 6 - Volta a Catalunya 2015 Brilliant racing by Valverde, Porte new leader - Volta a Catalunya 2015 Van Garderen powers to uphill win in La Molina - Volta a Catalunya 2015 Pocket-climber Pozzovivo takes stage, Rolland new leader - Volta a Catalunya 2015 Maciej Paterski takes stage 1 - Volta a Catalunya 2015 Route stage 1: Calella- Calella - Volta a Catalunya 2015 Route stage 3: Girona - Girona - Volta a Catalunya 2015 Route stage 4: Tona - La Molina - Volta a Catalunya 2015 Route stage 5: Alp - Valls - Volta a Catalunya 2015 Route stage 6: Cervera - Port Aventura - Volta a Catalunya 2015 Route stage 7: Barcelona - Barcelona - Volta a Catalunya 2015 More articles Vuelta Femenina 2024: The Route
Vuelta Femenina 2024: Riders
Vuelta Femenina 2024 Route stage 2: Buñol - Moncafa
Giro 2024: The Route
Giro 2024: Riders
Giro 2024: GC Favourites
Giro 2024 Route stage 1: Turin - Turin
Giro 2024 Favourites stage 1: Hilly race for pink
Giro 2024 Route stage 2: San Fransesco al Campo - Oropa
Giro 2024 Favourites stage 2: The King of Oropa
Giro 2024 Route stage 3: Novara - Fossano
Vuelta Femenina 2024 Route stage 1: Valencia TTT
Giro 2024 Favourites stage 3: For fast finishers #1
Giro 2024 Route stage 4: Acqui Terme - Andora
Giro 2024 Favourites stage 4: Mini Milan-San Remo
Giro 2024 Route stage 5: Genoa - Lucca
Giro 2024 Favourites stage 5: For fast finishers #2
Giro 2024 Route stage 6: Viareggio - Rapolano Terme
Giro 2024 Route stage 15: Manerba del Garda - Livigno
Giro 2024 Route stage 16: Livigno - Monte Pana
Giro 2024 Route stage 17: Selva di Val Gardena – Passo Brocon
Giro 2024 Route stage 20: Alpago – Bassano del Grappa
Cycling Calendar 2024
Liège–Bastogne–Liège Femmes 2024: Brown wins six-up sprint
Tour de France 2024: The Route
Tour de France 2024: Riders
Tour de France 2024 Route stage 1: Florence - Rimini
Vuelta 2024: The Route
Like our Facebook page and stay on top of all pro-race information!