cycling sc-scoreboard--detailed-wrapper sc-scoreboard--non-round-based" role="region" aria-live="polite" aria-label="Ronde van Catalonië Rit 2, afgelopen, winnaar Giulio Ciccone">
Tour of Catalonia: Stage 2
Road race 17°C 166.2 km
12:52: Mataró – 16:59: Vallter 2000
end
Giulio Ciccone (Trek-Segafredo) has won the mountain stage to Vallter 2000 in the Tour of Catalonia. Remco Evenepoel and Primoz Roglic seemed to make it a duel, just like yesterday, but the Italian was the third dog to run off with the leg.
Stage 2 in Catalonia in a nutshell:
Winner of the day: Giulio Ciccone was the smiling third during the second stage of the Tour of Catalonia. The Italian mountain goat of Trek-Segafredo, together with Primoz Roglic, was the only one to keep the wheel of Evenepoel. With an ultimate sprint he beat the two top favorites.
Best Belgian supporting actor: A dominant Remco Evenepoel was not the only compatriot to impress on the final climb. Cian Uijtdebroeks went surprisingly long with the elite group at an altitude of 2,000 meters and settled in 10th place in the daily result between all renowned leaders.
Morning: For those looking for altimeters, Catalonia is still the promised land. On day 3, the roof is not above the sacred limit of 2,000 meters, but La Molina (arrival uphill at 1,680 above sea level) is not for the faint of heart either.
When two dogs fight over a bone…
Every altimeter is a value meter in the Tour of Catalonia.
The future Giro competitors Remco Evenepoel and Primoz Roglic are especially aware of this, who never miss an opportunity to give each other a shot.
The world champion had to bow his head to the Slovenian yesterday after a final uphill sprint, but today was clearly keen to hit back in the first real mountain stage.
When attacker Esteban Chaves took a lead of 30 seconds on the final ascent to 2,000 meters, it was Evenepoel who took the initiative to retrieve him seemingly easily.
A statement to its competitors. He didn’t seem to be breathing at that moment.
Only: Primoz Roglic and Giulio Ciccone – who have not even driven a meter in front – were still the only ones hanging on their wheel near the top of the Vallter 2,000 in the steaming Evenepoel.
Had he wanted to show that he was in charge a little too emphatically?
Our compatriot did not budge in the last kilometer either and – with the arch in sight – placed one last acceleration. But our compatriot went too wide through the last corner and saw his slightly fresher competitors – who had again benefited from his slipstream – jump just past him.
A sneaky consolation prize: Roglic couldn’t make it 2-0. It was Ciccone who was allowed to prevail.
Ciccone: “My plan: follow, follow and follow”
Giulio Ciccone (1e)“It’s a great day for me. Yesterday we lost Dario Cataldo. So I want to dedicate this victory to him. It was a fast race, especially on the climb. I saw Chaves leave, but I just kept following Roglic and Evenepoel. That was the plan: follow, follow and follow again. After that I had a little bit left in the sprint. It is perhaps the best victory of my career.”
Roglic: “Racing at such a height was a long time ago”
Primoz Roglic (2e): “Yesterday was a lot easier to digest than today (sigh). 500 meters of climbing versus 15 kilometers of climbing. But somehow I made it to the top again. It’s been a long time since I did this kind of race again I feel I’m still building up, but I’m happy with my performance. Whether Ciccone surprised Evenepoel and me? When two dogs fight over a bone … No, you know: I’ve often encountered him in a narrow sprint, also in Tirreno. He deserves this.”
cycling">
5:05 pm match over
Ciccone surprises Evenepoel and Roglic!
If two dogs fight over a bone, the third will run with it. Evenepoel was dominant on the final climb, but sees Ciccone (1st) and Roglic (2nd) finally jump past him.
5:04 PM. Evenepoel puts little Chaves in his back pocket. What now? The world champion has Roglic and Ciccone in his wheel. .
Evenepoel puts little Chaves in his back pocket. What now? The world champion has Roglic and Ciccone in his wheel.
17:02. Evenepoel puts in a scorching counter-gear. Only Ciccone and Roglic can still follow. Will we get another sprint? .
Evenepoel places a scorching counter-gear. Only Ciccone and Roglic can still follow. Will we get another sprint?
17 hours . Evenepoel now turn itself on! Mikel Landa places his counter shot, but Evenepoel immediately goes up and over the Bahrain leader. The world champion picks up the pace, but it is not a sharp attack. He brings the GC men back to within 10 seconds of Chaves. .
Evenepoel now turn itself on!
Mikel Landa places his counter shot, but Evenepoel immediately goes up and over the Bahrain leader. The world champion picks up the pace, but it is not a sharp attack. He brings the GC men back to within 10 seconds of Chaves.
4:57 pm. Remco Evenepoel now puts his man Ilan Van Wilder in the lead. Evenepoel did not come here for a new second place, but a first stage victory. Can his young compatriot ease the gap with the Colombian? It has not yet been the “war” that the world champion had predicted. .
Remco Evenepoel now puts his man Ilan Van Wilder in the lead. Evenepoel did not come here for a new second place, but a first stage victory. Can his young compatriot ease the gap with the Colombian? It has not yet been the “war” that the world champion had predicted.
The lone leader. 16 hours 57.
+30″ for Chaves. The fluttering Colombian has already made a gap of 30 seconds with the GC men. The coming kilometers are no longer insurmountable. Who will place the first counterpunch? . 16 hours 55.
+30″ for Chaves
The fluttering Colombian has already opened a 30 second gap with the GC men. The coming kilometers are no longer insurmountable steep. Who will place the first counterpunch?
4 pm 53. Belgians (going) up. The young Belgians are doing well. Cian Uijtdebroeks, Ilan Van Wilder and Remco Evenepoel are still in the leading group. Maxim Van Gils has only just had to release the role. .
Belgians (to) above
The young Belgians are doing well. Cian Uijtdebroeks, Ilan Van Wilder and Remco Evenepoel are still in the leading group. Maxim Van Gils has only just had to release the role.
16:51. Almeida looms from the rear. The unruly Portuguese still had mechanical problems at the foot of the climb, but is now rejoining the elite group. .
Almeida looms from behind. The unruly Portuguese still had mechanical problems at the foot of the climb, but is now rejoining the elite group.
16h48. Attack Chaves. Climbing goat Esteban Chaves – who already finished second on this climb – places the first jab. Sepp Kuss is the only one who dares to take the plunge to the Colombian. The rest of the GC men patiently sit behind Bahrain’s red brigade. .
Attack Chaves
Climbing goat Esteban Chaves – who already finished second on this climb – places the first jab. Sepp Kuss is the only one who dares to take the plunge to the Colombian. The rest of the GC men patiently sit behind Bahrain’s red brigade.
4:47 PM. Bahrain Victorious is the team in control. They are leading with three men. Evenepoel also seems to have two teammates. .
Bahrain Victorious is the team in control. They are leading with three men. Evenepoel also seems to have two teammates.
4:44 pm. Wout Poels is about to catch the now lonely escapee Carr. His blistering pace throws the back door of the peloton wide open. .
Wout Poels is about to catch the now lonely escapee Carr. His blistering pace throws the back door of the peloton wide open.
4:42 pm. Bernal and Carapaz release. Egan Bernal leaves the peloton with his tongue out. The Ineos rider – who is making his comeback in Catalonia after a long rehabilitation – already announced that he just wanted to gain some competition rhythm here. No empty words. Carapaz also has to release the role now. .
Bernal and Carapaz release
Egan Bernal leaves the peloton with his tongue out. The Ineos rider – who is making his comeback in Catalonia after a long rehabilitation – already announced that he just wanted to gain some competition rhythm here. No empty words.
Carapaz also has to release the role now.
4:37 pm. Evenepoel moves up. Evenepoel puts himself in the wheel of his young lieutenant Ilan Van Wilder. The duo moves up to the front posts of the peloton. The ideal moment: the steepest kilometer is approaching. .
Evenepoel moves up
Evenepoel puts himself in the wheel of his young lieutenant Ilan Van Wilder. The duo moves up to the front posts of the peloton. The ideal moment: the steepest kilometer is approaching.
4:35 pm. Quinn Simmons lets his hair flutter at the head of the pack. The American guides his leader Giulio Ciccone forward. .
Quinn Simmons lets his hair flutter at the head of the pack. The American guides his leader Giulio Ciccone forward.
Vallter 2,000. We finish today on the Valtter 2000, from Camprodon that results in a climb of 22.5 km at an average of 5.4 percent uphill. The top of the climb is at 2,150 meters. The climb outside category is a good runner, between km 12 and 18 it goes up almost 8 percent. The steep part can start quietly. . 16 hours 34.
Vallter 2,000
We finish today on the Valtter 2000, from Camprodon that results in a climb of 22.5 km at an average of 5.4 percent uphill. The top of the climb is at 2,150 meters. The climb outside category is a good runner, between km 12 and 18 it goes up almost 8 percent. The steep part can start quietly.
Meal time. 4:33 pm.
+1’12” for the leading group. Robert Gesink and Michel Heßmann wave goodbye to the peloton. The duo has brought Roglic and co to within a minute of the leading group. A bird for the cat: the octet will not last long. 4:27 pm.
+1’12” for the leading group
Robert Gesink and Michel Heßmann wave goodbye to the peloton. The duo has brought Roglic and co to within a minute of the leading group. A bird for the cat: the octet will not last long.
4:11 pm Preparations for the final ascent have begun. More punctual than the NMBS, the large blocks already put a climbing train on the rails. Only Soudal-Quick Step – which is not yet visible at the front – seems to follow the Belgian rail regulation. .
The preparation for the final ascent has begun. More punctual than the NMBS, the large blocks already put a climbing train on the rails. Only Soudal-Quick Step – which is not yet visible at the front – seems to follow the Belgian rail regulation.
Crash in the peloton. The peloton has to pull in its belly when the wide road suddenly has to cross a narrow bridge. The Frenchman Kenny Elissonde seems to be the main victim: the Trek-Segafredo rider immediately feels for his collarbone. Reuben Thompson of Groupama-FDJ is also there. . 4 pm 13.
Crash in the peloton
The peloton has to pull in its belly when the wide road suddenly has to cross a narrow bridge. The Frenchman Kenny Elissonde seems to be the main victim: the Trek-Segafredo rider immediately feels for his collarbone. Reuben Thompson of Groupama-FDJ is also there.
