© Saudi Tour / Pauline Ballet
Saudi Tour: Ruben Guerreiro, king of the desert
He had been waiting for this moment for many years. By winning the Saudi Tour, Ruben Guerreiro has finally won the general classification of a stage race. King of the Saudi desert, the Portuguese from Movistar was able to make the difference during the fourth stage, the queen stage, towards Skyviews of Harrat Uwayrid by winning a tough summit finish ahead of Davide Formolo (UAE Team Emirates) and Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain – Victorious).
The former stage winner and King of the Mountains at the Giro d’Italia in 2020, well protected by his teammates, was not worried during the last stage won in the sprint by the Italian Simone Consonni (Cofidis). “In this sport it’s already difficult to win a stage so winning a general classification is really special”, the 28-year-old climber explained. “Today, I managed to stay well placed in the tricky and technical final. I am very emotional, and I feel stronger than ever.”
The results: 1. Ruben Guerreiro (Movistar) ; 2. Davide Formolo (UAE Team Emirates) ; 3. Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain – Victorious)
Stages won by: Dylan Groenewegen (Team Jayco AlUla) ; Jonathan Milan (Bahrain – Victorious) ; Soren Waerenskjold (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team) ; Ruben Guerreiro (Movistar) ; Simone Consonni (Cofidis).
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Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana Gran Premi Banc Sabadell: Rui Costa’s 30th!
Rui Costa offered a crazy epilogue to the 74th Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana. While Giulio Ciccone (Trek-Segafredo) seemed on the royal road to claim the overall in the general classification after his victory in the 2nd stage, the Portuguese from Intermarché-Circus-Wanty showed his opportunism in the last short and tricky stage (93.2 km) between Paterna and Valencia. Sixth in the general classification that morning, Rui Costa pulled away from the group of favorites two kilometers from the finish to join and then overtake the Dutchman Thymen Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers) on the line… and at the same time take the overall by 16 seconds. “I have found new impetus since my arrival at Intermarché-Circus-Wanty. This team believes in me and that motivates me a lot”, said Costa, who already has three victories this season. “This Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana is a very good race, I’m happy to win against such a strong field of competitors. This start to the season has been simply fantastic.”
His stage success and his overall victory mean the former world champion (36 years old) has now reached the milestone of claiming 30 professional victories.
The results: 1. Rui Costa (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) ; 2. Giulio Ciccone (Trek-Segafredo) ; 3. Tao Geoghegan Hart (Ineos Grenadiers)…
Stages won by: Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) ; Giulio Ciccone (Trek-Segafredo) ; Simone Velasco (Astana Qazaqstan Team) ; Tao Geoghegan Hart (Ineos Grenadiers) ; Rui Costa (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty).
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Upcoming races :
11/02 to 14/02: Tour of Oman, https://www.tour-of-oman.com/
11/02: Vuelta Ciclista a la Region de Murcia, https://www.vueltamurcia.es/es