25 Mar 2021
Grenadiers solidify 1-2-3 after Catalunya queen stage
Adam Yates retained his race lead as Geraint Thomas moved up to third overall after the queen stage at Volta a Catalunya, to make it an INEOS Grenadiers 1-2-3.
Richie Porte rode strongly to finish alongside Yates and Thomas, with the Welshman riding to third on the stage. That made it impressive back-to-back days in the mountains for the Grenadiers and with Joao Almeida (Deceuninck - Quick-Step) slipping back on the final climb, Thomas was able to move up to third overall, with Porte retaining second.
Esteban Chaves had soloed away to take the stage honours while the Grenadiers controlled proceedings behind. Luke Rowe and Jonathan Castroviejo did a fine job of controlling the day's break, before Rohan Dennis and then Richie Carapaz did their typically impressive pulls on the day's final climb up to Port Aine.
Carapaz dropped his chain with 11km to race but was able to sort the problem himself and then battle back to the front, and the Ecuadorian continued to ride strongly until 3km to go.
Esteban Chaves had soloed away to take the stage honours while the Grenadiers controlled proceedings behind. Luke Rowe and Jonathan Castroviejo did a fine job of controlling the day's break, before Rohan Dennis and then Richie Carapaz did their typically impressive pulls on the day's final climb up to Port Aine.
Carapaz dropped his chain with 11km to race but was able to sort the problem himself and then battle back to the front, and the Ecuadorian continued to ride strongly until 3km to go.
Geraint Thomas
"It was a good day. We rode slightly old school really. We controlled it, protected the jersey, but with myself and Richie up there as well it was nice to have the numbers so we wanted to save as many guys as possible for the final climb. Rohan rode really well, Billy - AKA Carapaz, because there’s only one Richie! - rode really well, all the way until 3.5km to go. That was impressive. We had a really strong tempo all the way up.
"It was a good day. We rode slightly old school really. We controlled it, protected the jersey, but with myself and Richie up there as well it was nice to have the numbers so we wanted to save as many guys as possible for the final climb. Rohan rode really well, Billy - AKA Carapaz, because there’s only one Richie! - rode really well, all the way until 3.5km to go. That was impressive. We had a really strong tempo all the way up.
"Chaves went and he’s obviously not a major threat on GC so we made sure he didn’t get too much of an advantage and it came down to a little sprint at the end. Personally it was nice to take third and a little time bonus as well, and we have all three top positions on GC now. Richie rode the last couple of kilometres on the front because he was cramping a little bit but obviously he was still really strong considering he had cramp! It’s been a great few days."
