March 26/14 16:19 pm - Volta Ciclista a Catalunya: Stage 3

Posted by Editoress on 03/26/14
 

Incredible work from the Katusha Team on the first of two mountaintop finishes in the 2014 La Volta paid off in a big way on Wednesday with Joaquim Rodriguez taking both the stage win and the overall lead in the general classification.  It was the first win of the season for the Spanish rider and second in four days for the Russian Global Cycling Project after Sunday’s victory by Alexander Kristoff in Milano-Sanremo.  The win brings the total victories for Katusha Team to three for the 2014 season.

Purito Rodriguez: "Everything went fine the entire day. I spoke with my teammates and begged them to keep control of the break and they did a perfect job. At 2 K from the finish Dani Moreno did the last effort that was important to make our group smaller and smaller. When Froome attacked, I saw that he lacked the power to win. When he sat down in the saddle again, I attacked. The last kilometre was marvelous."

Sports director Dmitry Konyshev had nothing but praise for his Katusha Team:  “It was an amazing job from Maxim Belkov. On his own he kept control over the break. When we came into the last 30 kilometres, Pavel Brutt, Angel Vicioso and Eduard Vorganov started to set a higher tempo in the group. And then Caruso and Moreno prepared the platform for Purito. Tactically our plan worked."

The 162.9km stage began in Banyoles and ended in the snowfields at La Molina after almost five hours of racing and a second day of cold weather for the peloton. A group of six riders was featured in the long breakaway over the category 1 and HC climbs in the first part of the course but a large group of riders was all together for the final category 1 pitch.  The last climb at 5.3km to go showed Rodriguez at his finest, patiently waiting in the wheel of teammate Dani Moreno until the final kilometre of racing.  Responding first to an attack by Chris Froome (Sky), ‘Purito’ pulled to the left at 500 meters to go and increased his speed, taking on the final hairpin turns with ease to arrive at the finish line arms raised in victory.  Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo Bank) and Nairo Quintana of Movistar completed the top three at five- and nine-seconds behind Rodriguez.

"It was not so easy,” explained Joaquim Rodriguez.  “In the descent to La Molina I thought I was on the North Pole, it was so cold. Fortunately I received some clothes at the top and I was well protected. And it’s good there was no rain."

Rodriguez looks to stage four: "Tomorrow will be the queen's stage and harder than today, but also a good day for me and I can ride in defensive mode. I took five seconds today. That is not so much, but when the favorites stay together, I will keep my advantage. Before today I never thought I’d be able to take even one second. I was thinking more of Betancur or Moreno for today, but then I suddenly felt so good..."

Director Konyshev sees promise in the days to come:  "Now we can control tomorrow, but it would also be good to take extra time. I think tomorrow’s stage suits Purito even better than today. With some extra seconds we can be a bit more relaxed the last two days when there are bonification seconds at the finish line." Mountaintop finishes don’t offer time bonuses, relying instead on real time.

"Ten years ago I won the Semana Catalana,” said Rodriguez.  “It would be nice to win the Volta this year, but let's be careful in our thinking. Don't forget that the level of this race is so high. It’s nice to see all the big names here and when you see that Evans was already top in Down Under, Quintana in Argentina, Contador and Valverde also, I could not stay behind..."

With four stages still to race, including tomorrow’s second day in the high mountains, Joaquim Rodriguez holds the top spot on the classification with 5-seconds to Contador.  Tomorrow’s stage begins in Alp and goes to Vallter 2000 – Setcases for an uphill finish on the beyond category climb after 166km of racing. 

Report Courtesy Katusha

Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin Sharp)  finished 14th on teh stage and moves up to 11th overall.  Christian Meier (Orica-GreenEDGE) finsished 83d and is 84th overall.

Results from the third stage in Spain