Volta a Catalunya 2024: Pogacar wins in Vallter to take race lead

foto: Cor VosTadej Pogacar strikes with 6 kilometres left on the finish climb. The Slovene solos to victory to move into the of Volta a Catalunya's leader's jersey. Mikel Landa finishes in second, Aleksandr Vlasov in third. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 2nd stage 2024 Volta a Catalunya

1. Tadej Pogacar (slo)
2. Mikel Landa (spa) + 1.23
3. Aleksandr Vlasov (rus) s.t.
4. João Almeida (por) + 1.35
5. Lenny Martinez (fra) + 1.41
6. Chris Harper (aus) + 1.43
7. Egan Bernal (col) + 1.46
8. Enric Mas (spa) s.t.
9. Wout Poels (nld) + 2.03
10. José Manuel Díaz (spa) s.t.

12. Sepp Kuss (usa) + 2.03
18. Nairo Quintana (col) + 2.27
19. Simon Yates (gbr) s.t.
23. Cian Uijtdebroeks (bel) + 2.45
26. Sergio Higuita (col) + 2.52
28. Ilan Van Wilder (bel) + 2.58
47. Geraint Thomas (gbr) + 3.30

GC after stage 2
1. Tadej Pogacar (slo)
2. Mikel Landa (spa) + 1.35
3. Aleksandr Vlasov (rus) + 1.38
4. João Almeida (por) + 1.56
5. Lenny Martinez (fra) + 2.01
6. Chris Harper (aus) + 2.02
7. Egan Bernal (col) s.t.
8. Enric Mas (spa) + 2.07
9. Sepp Kuss (usa) + 2.21
10. José Manuel Díaz (spa) s.t.

Race report
Jimmy Janssens, Kevin Colleoni, Samuel Fernández, Álex Jaime, Jambaljamts Sainbayar and Xabier Isasa attack early on. The peloton agrees and the gap goes out to almost 7 minutes.

Tadej Pogacar attacks with his team mate Domen Novak after 20 kilometres in the saddle. They ride 1 minute ahead of the peloton for awhile until they sit up.

The leaders enter the first climb, Coll de Coubet, with an advantage of 3 minutes. Janssens heads out alone and Fernández tracks him down. They reach the summit together, the Spaniard in first position.

Fernández drops Janssens on descent, while Pogacar attacks from the peloton. Again, it’s a feint.

Janssens rejoins Fernández in the valley and leaves him behind while riding towards the finish climb. The Belgian rider is caught with 9 kilometres left to Vallter.

Pogacar attacks with 6 kilometres remaining. Some riders try to follow, but it’s invain. He opens a gap and first chasers are Almeida, Landa, Harper, Uijtdebroeks, Vlasov, Tejada and Bernal.

more to come

Another interesting read: route 2nd stage 2024 Volta a Catalunya.