May 1st, 2021
Spaniard wins reduced field’s sprint in Cangas del Narcea, profits from Blues’ strength in numbers as Einer Rubio takes 3rd. Antonio Pedrero -6th today- remains in second overall, just ahead of the Colombian
An unforgettable day in the professional career of Héctor Carretero. In his fifth season in cycling’s top tier –all of which he’s worn the Movistar Team colours at-, the rider born in Madrigueras, Albacete was finally able to raise his arms victorious with a great sprint at the end of stage two in the Vuelta a Asturias, a demanding 200km route from Candás to Cangas del Narcea with the Alto del Acebo (Cat-1) as main difficulty.
The Telefónica-backed squad played its strength in numbers to perfection, always having cards to play from the foot of the Acebo. Einer Rubio launched the first attack, leading most of the climb with Víctor de la Parte (TDE); Pedrero went across later on, trying to leave behind race leader Nairo Quintana (ARK); and just before the top of the ascent, the two Blues got together, while Carretero joined them shortly after to make the final selection of eight.
As the group entered Cangas, Héctor took himself to the fore and clearly bested Quintana, with Rubio (3rd) completing a great day for the Blues in Spain and Pedrero, 6th, remaining into the provisional podium overall -second to Nairo, with Einer in 3rd- before a final, explosive stage three (125km) over the climbs of Violeo and Naranco.
REACTION / Héctor Carretero:
“I’m so happy to have claimed this first professional victory. It’s cleat to me what my job here is – I’m one to support my team-mates, I’m happy with that role in the team and want to keep improving on that. In days like today, you’ve got to make the most of those chances. This gives me massive morale, and huge relief to finally get that first win in the books. I remember Jesús Hoyos in this day, and since I turned pro, I always wanted to dedicate this first victory to my family, friends and the town of Madriguers. This goes for all of them.
“We knew that it was down to getting first to the final turn after the downhill, since, after that curve, only 200 meters were left and you would win. I told my team-mates to stay behind me – I actually spent most of the downhill pushing, and let them know I was feeling well, with that pucnh to finish it off. I made him realize that they only had to keep my wheel so we could secure the win; Einer went straight after me, Antonio also tried it, for our rivals to have a harder time at coming back, and with that punch I had, I could finish it off.
“We’ve got a ‘problem’ when it comes to the GC situation: Nairo Quintana is so strong uphill. In our case, there’s an advantage: it’s two riders versus one, with Antonio Pedrero and Einer Rubio. We will try to make things hard and hopefully, still stand a chance of success. We won’t leave without putting up a fight.”
