Volta a Catalunya 2019: Power victory Matthews, De Gendt retains lead

Results 2nd stage Volta a Catalunya 2019

1. Michael Matthews (aus)
2. Alejandro Valverde (spa) s.t.
3. Daryl Impey (rsa) s.t.
4. Maximilian Schachmann (ger) s.t.
5. Odd Christian Eiking (nor) s.t.
6. James Knox (gbr) s.t.
7. Patrick Bevin (nzl) s.t.
8. Enrico Gasparotto (ita) s.t.
9. Davide Formolo (ita) s.t.
10. Daniel Martin (irl) s.t.

GC after stage 2
1. Thomas De Gendt (bel)
2. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 2.47
3. Michael Matthews (aus) + 2.48
4. Maximilian Schachmann (ger) s.t.
5. Daryl Impey (rsa) + 2.54
6. Nairo Quintana (col) + 2.56
7. Egan Bernal (col) + 2.57
8 Steven Kruijswijk (nld) s.t.
9. Luis Ángel Maté (spa) s.t.
10. Patrick Bevin (nzl) + 2.58

Race report
Jonas Gregaard, Josef Cerny and Marco Minnaard are today’s breakaway boys. The trio races to a lead of 7 minutes before the peloton starts to reel them in.

Chris Froome hits the tarmac inside the last 35 kilometres. He loses time and is out of GC contention.

Cerny leaves the other attackers behind on the last climb of the day. It is in vain as he is caught a little later.

Valverde pockets a time bonus of 3 seconds in the last intermediate sprint. Quintana takes 2, Kruijswijk 1.

The finale is technical and demanding. Impey opens up the sprint on the uphill section to the line, but Matthews overhauls him and comfortably holds off Valverde. The World Champion takes 6 more bonus seconds, yet the Australian wins his first race of the season after recently crashing out of Paris-Nice.

De Gendt stays in the GC lead, while Valverde now sits in second and Matthews in third.

Another interesting read: route 2nd stage 2019 Volta a Catalunya.

Volta a Catalunya 2019 stage 2: route, profile, more

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