Volta a Catalunya 2015: Valverde stage, Porte Catalunya

The final stage of the Volta a Catalunya is 126.6 kilometres and ends with a local circuit featuring Alto de Montjuic eight times, a climb with a steepest section of 8%. The race explodes in the last kilometres with Alejandro Valverde sprinting to victory. His 3rd stage win this edition. Porte takes the overall. (Slideshow route/profile)

Volta a Catalunya 2015: Results stage 7

1. Alejandro Valverde (spa)
2. Bryan Coquard (fra) s.t.
3. Sergei Chernetski (rus) s.t.
4. Jarlison Pantano (col) s.t.
5. Romain Hardy (fra) s.t.
6. José Joaquin Rojas (spa) s.t.
7. Rigoberto Uran (col) s.t.
8. Domenico Pozzovivo (ita) s.t.
9. Rafael Valls (spa) s.t.
10. Gianluca Brambilla (ita) s.t.

Volta a Catalunya 2015: General Classification
1. Richie Porte (aus)
2. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 0.04
3. Domenico Pozzovivo (ita) + 0.05
4. Alberto Contador (spa) + 0.07
5. Rigoberto Uran (col) + 0.18
6. Fabio Aru (ita) + 0.27
7. Darwin Atapuma (col) + 0.33
8. Rafael Valls (spa) + 0.43
9. Wilco Kelderman (nld) + 1.09
10. Daniel Martin (irl) + 1.35

30. Tejay van Garderen (usa) + 13.48
31. Andrew Talansky (usa) + 14.28
71. Chris Froome (gbr) + 45.35

Race report
It´s only after 37 km´s the break of the day takes shape – David Arroyo, Marek Rutkiewicz and Walter Pedraza race to a maximum gain of around 2 minutes.

With 18 km´s left Pedraza attacks, but its all in vain and with 14 km’s to go he is brought back.

Dan Martin attacks with 3 km’s left, but it is impossible to stay away. Movistar and Sky lead the bunch and Alejandro Valverde wins the last stage in Catalunya after a perfect lead out by Rojas.

Riche Porte takes the overall and Valverde is runner-up at 0’04”. After winning Paris-Nice two weeks ago, March proves to be a great month for Porte.