Volta Ciclista a Catalunya – Stage 5
Llivia – Vielha Val d’Aran, 212,9 km
23rd March, 2018.
The longest stage stage of Volta Ciclista a Catalunya was a very demanding stage with hard climbs. From the start there were several attempts for the breakaway and finally After 30 km it happened with 12 riders and TBM riders, Giovanni Visconti and Valerio Agnoli. Valerio had some issues after 140 km and didn’t keep up in the breakaway group. Giovanni Visconti managed to stay in the breakaway that splitter into two parts.
The leading duo: Jarlinson Pantano (Trek-Segafredo) and Vegard Stake Laengen (UAE Team Emirates) were keeping the comfortable distance at the descent that was really fast with speed over 80 km/h.
Matej Mohorič showed one more time his quality in his descending capabilities and skills on Catalunya. He jumped from the group and started speeding up and he even celebrated at the finish with hands up high, thinking he had won the stage, but he did not hear well the SD radio and was fully in his focus and ambitions. At the end Matej Mohorič was third and Giovanni Visconti fourth on today’s 5th stage of Volta Cyclist A Catalunya.
It was a good performance of TBM riders and after the race they were aware that they had bigger ambitions today, what is definitely a good vibe for their future goals.
Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) got the 8th place today and kept his GC lead by 16 seconds. Egan Bernal (Team Sky) is the runner up in overall and Nairo Quintana (Movistar) third with 26 seconds behind Valverde.
