Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 2018: Valverde wins three-up sprint and takes overall lead
The route of the 2nd stage in the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana travels over five climbs to a flat finish in Albuixech. At the last ascent, the Garbi, Valverde and Fuglsang attack, while León Sánchez rejoins them on descent. The trio work together well before Valverde wins the three-up sprint, taking the overall lead in doing so. (Slideshow route/profile)
Results 2nd stage 2018 Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana
1. Alejandro Valverde (spa)
2. Jakob Fuglsang (den) s.t.
3. Luis León Sánchez (spa) s.t.
4. Giovanni Visconti (ita) + 0.19
5. Greg Van Avermaet (bel) s.t.
6. Merhawi Kudus (eri) s.t.
7. Pello Bilbao (spa) s.t.
8. Alexis Vuillermoz (fra) s.t.
9. Ben Hermans (bel) s.t.
10. Adam Yates (gbr) s.t.
GC after the 2nd stage
1. Alejandro Valverde (spa)
2. Jakob Fuglsang (den) + 0.04
3. Luis León Sánchez (spa) + 0.06
4. Wout Poels (nld) + 0.29
5. Diego Rosa (ita) s.t.
6. Pello Bilbao (spa) s.t.
7. Greg Van Avermaet (bel) s.t.
8. David de la Cruz (spa) s.t.
9. Primoz Roglic (slo) s.t.
10. Brent Bookwalter (usa) s.t.
Race report
At km 6 a group of seven riders open up a gap. Five of them – Mathias Van Gompel, Bryan Nauleau, Ander Jon Insausti, Garikoitz Bravo, Jésus Alberto Rubio – push on to race to a lead of 7 minutes before the peloton takes them on a leash. Bravo is first to crest the first three KOM climbs, Van Gompel takes most points at the Eslida.
The attackers are reeled in at the last climb, the Garbi. Leader Danny van Poppel is dropped at the steepest ramps, while Jakob Fuglsang and Alejandro Valverde attack with 34 kms remaining. The Spaniard is first to crest, the Dane on his wheel. The decimated pack is 20 seconds down on the two leaders.
Luis León Sánchez rejoins the duo on descent and the trio powers to a lead of half a minute over the Sky-led chasing group. Fuglsang leads out for his team mate Sanchez, but Valverde is fastest in the ensuing sprint.
Check out the route of the 2nd stage of the 2018 Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana.
Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 2018 stage 2: Route maps, height profiles, and more
Click on the images to zoom
Alejandro Valverde
Watch the highlights of recent races here:
Related articles Favourites - Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 20 Overview - Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 20 Roelandts outsprints Van Poppel, Valverde takes overall - Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 20 Valverde wins Queen Stage and cements overall lead - Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 20 BMC wins neutralized TTT, Valverde still in overall lead - Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 20 Van Poppel takes 1st stage and leader's jersey - Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 20 Route stage 1: Oropesa del Mar – Peñíscola - Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 20 Route stage 3: Poble Nou de Benitaxell - Calpe - Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 20 Route stage 4: Orihuela - Cocentaina - Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 20 Route stage 5: Paterna - Valencia - Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 20 More articles Giro 2025 Route stage 10: Lucca – Pisa
Giro 2025 Favourites stage 10: For pure time trialists
Giro 2025 stage 10: Start times Lucca -> Pisa ITT
Giro 2025: Withdrawals
Giro 2025: The Route
Giro 2025: Riders
Giro 2025 Route stage 11: Viareggio – Castelnovo ne’ Mont
Giro 2025 Favourites stage 11: Attackers in promising finale
Giro 2025 Route stage 12: Modena – Viadana
Giro 2025 Favourites stage 12: For fast men #3
Giro 2025 Route stage 13: Rovigo - Monte Berico
Giro 2025 Favourites stage 13: Puncheurs at Monte Berico
Giro 2025 Route stage 14: Treviso – Nova Gorica
Giro 2025 Favourites stage 14: For fast men #4
Giro 2025 Route stage 15: Fiume Veneto – Asiago
Giro 2025 Favourites stage 15: Attackers in the high mountains
Giro 2025 Route stage 16: Piazzola sul Brenta – San Valentino
Giro 2025 Favourites stage 16: GC showdown at high altitudes
Giro 2025 Route stage 17: San Michele all’Adige - Bormio
Giro 2025 Favourites stage 17: Breakaways over the Mortirolo
Giro 2025 Route stage 18: Morbegno - Cesano Maderno
Giro 2025 Favourites stage 18: For fast men #5
Cycling Calendar 2025
Tour de France 2025: The Route
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 1: Lille - Lille
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 2: Lauwin-Planque - Boulogne-sur-Mer
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 3: Valenciennes - Dunkirk
Vuelta Femenina 2025 Route stage 6: Becerril de Campos - Baltanás