Road Roundup – February 15, 2020

In today’s road racing news, solo win for Luis Leon Sanchez, Quintana rides to victory on Mont Ventoux, Adam de Vos in breakaway at Murcia, Giro’s Veneto stages announced and Evenpoel to lead Decuecninck-Quick Step for Algarve

Luis Leon Sanchez solos to win Stage 2 of Volta Ciclista a Region de Murcia

It was a great day for Astana Pro Team at the Vuelta Murcia. Luis Leon Sanchez won the second stage of the race after his late solo attack, Omar Fraile won the sprint for the second podium place, taking also the red jersey of the best climber, Nikita Stalnov finished 5th in the general classification, while Astana became the best team of the race.

 

“I am so happy to win at home in Murcia! This is a special race for me, and I am so excited to get another success here. This means a lot for me! It was a very difficult day on the road, and we all gave our best to win. The team was super today and I want to thank all guys for a great support. I think, our team did a very strong stage, especially with Omar Fraile and Oscar Rodriguez in the breakaway. I also was up there among the leaders, but on Collado Bermejo I did not feel too good. I thought it won’t be possible to fight for a stage, but later on descent I was able to catch the yellow jersey’s group, while inside the final 10 kilometers we caught two leaders. Together with Omar Fraile we played well our cards, and in a moment I saw a possibility for an attack and I just went away. This victory means a lot for me and I am happy to bring it to my team, – said Luis Leon Sanchez.

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Nairo Quintata soars to victory on Mont Ventoux

Nairo Quintana lived up to expectations on the slopes of the Mont Ventoux, the toughest climb in the fifth edition of the Tour de La Provence. The Colombian left the competition in the dust to claim his first win in Arkéa–Samsic colours as well as the overall lead. Tomorrow’s 170.5 km stage from Avignon to Aix-en-Provence is the last obstacle between him and succeeding Gorka Izagirre as the winner of the race.

“I’m happy, the whole team worked hard to make it happen. It’s a great day! I enjoyed every bit of the climb,” said Quintana. “We did a great job throughout the stage. I’m really grateful to my teammates. Having a great team dynamic and a good vibe pays off, as we’ve seen since the start of the season. We’ve been getting things right. This victory brings joy to everyone.

Our strategy was to ride as a team. I’m really happy to be here with Arkéa–Samsic, a great team. Kudos to them. We have to give it our best to show our appreciation for our sponsors. On a personal level, I want to pay back the team for its trust in me. I hope this victory will be the first of many more to come,” he concluded.

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Rally Cycling’s De Vos storms Vuelta Murcia

Canadian road champion Adam de Vos of the Rally Cycling team sprinted to a second place finish with against his breakaway companions in the opening stage of the Vuelta Murcia. After nearly an hour of attacks, the breakaway reached the foot of the final cobbled climb intact where de Vos kicked off in pursuit of eventual stage winner Xandro Meurisse (Circus – Wanty Gobert) to finish second. De Vos moved into second place overall and now leads the Metas Volantes sprint competition.

The riders from the breakaway sit 17 minutes ahead of the peloton in the general classification.

“That was probably the hardest bit of biking I’ve ever done,” said de Vos. “The last 30 km we had such a huge gap we were able to really mess around. I don’t think there was more than a couple actual paceline pulls, the only way we were moving forward was haymaker attacks.”

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Giro announces Venoto region stages

The stages of the 2020 Giro d’Italia that will take place in the Veneto Region were presented today at the CosmoBike Show at Verona Fiere.

The Corsa Rosa, organized by RCS Sport / La Gazzetta dello Sport, is scheduled from 9 to 31 May. The first stage in the Veneto Region will be held in the province of Padua with the stage finish in Monselice on Friday 22 May. The following day, a challenging individual time trial will be raced entirely in the province of Treviso, from Conegliano to Valdobbiadene: the Prosecco Superiore Wine Stage. On Wednesday 27 May, Bassano del Grappa, in the province of Vicenza, will host the start of one of the Giro’s mountain stages, that will finish in Madonna di Campiglio.

The President of the Veneto Region Luca Zaia said: “Veneto returns to wear pink with renewed enthusiasm. It will be a sparkling Giro d’Italia – for the enthusiasm that will accompany the riders, caravans and organizers on the region’s roads, for a gem such as the Conegliano-Valdobbiadene ITT in the heart of the Prosecco hills, a UNESCO World Heritage site, for the much anticipated Cervia-Monselice, for the charm of Bassano del Grappa, the ‘capital’ of the Italian Alpini, with its finish at the Madonna di Campiglio.

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Deceuninck – Quick-Step announces roster for Volta ao Algarve

With three overall classification victories, 15 stage wins with a dozen different riders, and several distinctive jerseys, most recent of which was taken home by Tim Declercq last year – it’s safe to say that Volta ao Algarve has been a kind race with the Deceuninck – Quick-Step, who returns at the start of the 46th edition (19-23 February).

Two stages for the sprinters, two uphill finishes – on Alto da Fóia (7.4km, 6%) and Alto do Malhão (2.6km, 9.4%) – and a 20.3km-long individual time trial, which for the first time in eight years is scheduled on the last day, make up the parcours of the Portuguese race, where Remco Evenepoel will return to competition after his Vuelta a San Juan triumph, at the beginning of the month.

Sports Director Tom Steels: “Remco will find a good course for him, but at the same time demanding. The technical time trial on the final stage will be an important test for both Remco, who we hope will get a good GC result, but also for Yves, who podiumed in the Algarve ITT last year.”

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