MADRID, March 24, 2013 (AFP) - Daniel Martin claimed victory in the Tour of Catalonia on Sunday with the Irish rider's lead never seriously threatened on the seventh and final stage in Barcelona. Thomas De Gendt (Vacansoleil-DCM) was the winner of the 122km ride from El Vendrell into the Catalan capital as he pipped David Lopez Garcia (Sky) and Robert Kiserlovski (RadioShack-Leopard) on … [Read more...]
Simon Gerrans Wins 6th Stage, Martin Retains Lead At Tour of Catalonia
March 23, 2013 By Leave a Comment
VALLS, Spain, March 23, 2013 (AFP) - Australian Simon Gerrans won the sixth stage of the Tour of Catalonia on Saturday as Ireland's Daniel Martin retained his lead at the top of the overall standings. Gerrans, who rides for Orica-GreenEDGE, prevailed in a sprint finish to the penultimate day's 178.7km run from Almacelles to Valls, beating Belgian Gianni Meersman, already a double stage … [Read more...]
Parisien Wins Catalonia Stage 5, As Martin Extends Overall Lead
March 22, 2013 By Leave a Comment
MADRID, March 22, 2013 (AFP) - Canadian Francois Parisien won the fifth stage of the Tour of Catalonia on Friday as Ireland's Daniel Martin extended his overall lead. Parisien of the Argos-Shimano team took the stage honours on the line as 13 riders finished the 156 kilometre ride from Rialp to Lleida to a time of three hours thirty-two minutes and two seconds. However, Martin … [Read more...]
Martin Makes A Break For It To Win Stage 4 In Catalonia
March 21, 2013 By Leave a Comment
MADRID, March 21, 2013 (AFP) - Irishman Dan Martin stormed into the lead of the Tour of Catalonia with an impressive victory in the fourth stage of the race on Thursday. The Garmin-Sharp rider surged clear with nearly eight kilometres remaining of the gruelling 217.7km kilometre ride from Comprodon to Port Aine to finish 36 seconds clear of Joaquim Rodriguez and also move 10 seconds … [Read more...]
Race Leader Alejandro Valverde Forced To Abandon Tour of Catalonia
March 21, 2013 By Leave a Comment
MADRID, March 21, 2013 (AFP) - Race leader Alejandro Valverde has abandoned the Tour of Catalonia after crashing 119 kilometers into the fourth stage of the event on Thursday. The Spanish rider and his Team Movistar team-mate Eros Capecchi both had to withdraw from the race after crashing on a descent towards Seo de Urgel. Valverde continued for another 10 kilometres before finally … [Read more...]
Quintana Wins Tour of Catalonia Third Stage
March 20, 2013 By Leave a Comment
MADRID, March 20, 2013 (AFP) - Colombia's Nairo Quintana won the 180km third stage of the Tour of Catalonia from Vidreres to the Vallter 2000 ski resort on Wednesday. Quintana pipped Spaniards Alejandro Valverde and Joaquim Rodriguez in a tough uphill finish to claim the win. The Colombian's Movistar team-mate Valverde took over the leader's jersey from Belgium's Gianni Meersman … [Read more...]
Meersman Makes It Two In A Row At Tour of Catalonia
March 19, 2013 By Leave a Comment
MADRID, March 19, 2013 (AFP) - Belgian rider Gianni Meersman retained the overall lead in the Tour of Catalonia after making it two stages wins in as many days on Tuesday. The 27-year-old beat home Italian Daniele Ratto and Brett Lancaster of Australia in a sprint finish to the 160.7km ride from Girona to Banyuls. Meersman sits atop the overall standings, 16sec ahead of Spain's … [Read more...]
Gianni Meersman Takes Opening Stage At Tour of Catalonia
March 18, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Belgium's Gianni Meersman won the first stage of the Tour of Catalonia in a sprint finish at the end of the 159 kilometre ride to Calella. The Omega Pharma-Quick Step rider just edged out Valerio Agnoli (Cannondale) and Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) on the line, with Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins finishing in sixth. Despite the fact that the first 13 riders to cross the line … [Read more...]
Simon Wins Tour of Catalonia Fifth Stage
March 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment
MADRID, March 23, 2012 (AFP) - French rider Julien Simon, of the SAU team, won the fifth stage of Tour of Catalonia on Friday, after a sprint finish to the 207.1km run between Asco and Manresa. Colombia's Rigoberto Uran, of Sky, and Poland's Sylvester Szmyd, of the Liquigas team, completed the top three. Switzerland's Michael Albasini, of the GreenEdge team, who won the first two … [Read more...]
Uran Bags Stage, Albasini Retains Tour of Catalonia Lead
March 22, 2012 By Leave a Comment
MADRID, March 22, 2012 (AFP) - Colombia's Rigoberto Uran (Team Sky) won the Tour of Catalonia's fourth stage on Thursday after outsprinting Russian Denis Menchov and Sylvester Szmyd of Poland after 199km of racing from Tremp to Asco. Swiss Michael Albasini (GreenEdge), who won the first two stages, retained the race lead ahead of Friday's hilly fifth stage, held over 207km from Asco to … [Read more...]