Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 2018: Valverde wins three-up sprint and takes overall lead

The route of the 2nd stage in the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana travels over five climbs to a flat finish in Albuixech. At the last ascent, the Garbi, Valverde and Fuglsang attack, while León Sánchez rejoins them on descent. The trio work together well before Valverde wins the three-up sprint, taking the overall lead in doing so. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 2nd stage 2018 Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana

1. Alejandro Valverde (spa)
2. Jakob Fuglsang (den) s.t.
3. Luis León Sánchez (spa) s.t.
4. Giovanni Visconti (ita) + 0.19
5. Greg Van Avermaet (bel) s.t.
6. Merhawi Kudus (eri) s.t.
7. Pello Bilbao (spa) s.t.
8. Alexis Vuillermoz (fra) s.t.
9. Ben Hermans (bel) s.t.
10. Adam Yates (gbr) s.t.

GC after the 2nd stage
1. Alejandro Valverde (spa)
2. Jakob Fuglsang (den) + 0.04
3. Luis León Sánchez (spa) + 0.06
4. Wout Poels (nld) + 0.29
5. Diego Rosa (ita) s.t.
6. Pello Bilbao (spa) s.t.
7. Greg Van Avermaet (bel) s.t.
8. David de la Cruz (spa) s.t.
9. Primoz Roglic (slo) s.t.
10. Brent Bookwalter (usa) s.t.

Race report
At km 6 a group of seven riders open up a gap. Five of them – Mathias Van Gompel, Bryan Nauleau, Ander Jon Insausti, Garikoitz Bravo, Jésus Alberto Rubio – push on to race to a lead of 7 minutes before the peloton takes them on a leash. Bravo is first to crest the first three KOM climbs, Van Gompel takes most points at the Eslida.

The attackers are reeled in at the last climb, the Garbi. Leader Danny van Poppel is dropped at the steepest ramps, while Jakob Fuglsang and Alejandro Valverde attack with 34 kms remaining. The Spaniard is first to crest, the Dane on his wheel. The decimated pack is 20 seconds down on the two leaders.

Luis León Sánchez rejoins the duo on descent and the trio powers to a lead of half a minute over the Sky-led chasing group. Fuglsang leads out for his team mate Sanchez, but Valverde is fastest in the ensuing sprint.

Check out the route of the 2nd stage of the 2018 Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana.