Tim Wellens Wins Opening Stage Of Vuelta Andalucia
20 February 2019 03:52
Lotto Soudal’s Tim
Wellens has won the opening stage of the Vuelta Andalucia.
The Rud de Sol, now
in its 65th edition, started with a 170km stage from Sanlúcar to Alcalá de los
Gazules and a strong field including the Vuelta Espana winner Simon
Yates of Mitchelton-Scott.
Roompot’s
Michael Van Staeyen, Cuadros, Ermenault, Pessot, Samitier, Bol and Cuadrado
formed the first break of the race and were soon 2.10 ahead and were 1.55 ahead
after 45kms and 2.24 clear thirteen kilometres later.
Van Staeyen
was clear after seventy kilometres but it was Samitier who was first over the
Prado Del Ray climb after 99kms and with fifty kilometres left, their lead was
1.11.
Pessot
took the sprint but the gap was coming down and the break was ended with 22kms
left.
Astana
and Bahrain-Merida took to the front with ten kilometres left on a sunny day of
temperatures around 18 degrees.
Two
riders attacked with Matt Moteguti joining Van Gestel and they took a lead of seventeen
seconds heading towards the final climb - Alcalá de los Gazules.
Tim
Wellens was in the ix on this 14.7% climb up a narrow street. Jakob Fuglsang was
leading with 600 metres left, then Ion Izagirre tried to go before Wellens
attacked again and won in 4.24.13 ahead of Jakob Fuglsang and Ion Izagirre.
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