08 Apr 2022
Rodriguez seals unforgettable first win
Related riders
Carlos Rodriguez
Carlos Rodriguez rode to an unforgettable first pro victory in the Basque Country as Dani Martinez sealed a famous 1-2 for the INEOS Grenadiers.
Rodriguez infiltrated the day's early break and played it perfectly, marking the move of GC threat Marc Soler and pushing clear with his fellow countryman midway through the stage.
Behind, the Grenadiers were able to let other teams make the chase, and then on the penultimate climb Rodriguez attacked Soler and pushed clear.
In the bunch Martinez quickly reacted to a Remco Evenepoel attack and a small group formed, distancing race leader Primoz Roglic.
Ahead, Rodriguez maintained his 30-second lead on the early slopes of the final climb to the line, and it was only in the final kilometre that the gap closed. He had enough on the savage slopes to hold off the chasing pack - led by teammate Martinez.
Martinez distanced Evenepoel by two seconds and closed the GC gap to just two seconds - setting up an incredible final stage in the Basque Country.
Rodriguez, 21, has been in impressive form across 2022, picking up where he left off in 2021. The Spaniard's first pro win has been a long time coming - and that was one hell of a way to do it.
Behind, the Grenadiers were able to let other teams make the chase, and then on the penultimate climb Rodriguez attacked Soler and pushed clear.
In the bunch Martinez quickly reacted to a Remco Evenepoel attack and a small group formed, distancing race leader Primoz Roglic.
Ahead, Rodriguez maintained his 30-second lead on the early slopes of the final climb to the line, and it was only in the final kilometre that the gap closed. He had enough on the savage slopes to hold off the chasing pack - led by teammate Martinez.
Martinez distanced Evenepoel by two seconds and closed the GC gap to just two seconds - setting up an incredible final stage in the Basque Country.
Rodriguez, 21, has been in impressive form across 2022, picking up where he left off in 2021. The Spaniard's first pro win has been a long time coming - and that was one hell of a way to do it.
