©Tour de la Provence
Tour de la Provence : Quintana tames the Montagne de Lure
The Colombian Nairo Quintana won his second Tour de la Provence on Sunday after his success in 2020. Though he was 32 seconds behind the current race leader, the Italian Filippo Ganna (Ineos-Grenadiers), ” El Condor” built his overall victory on the final ascent of the Montagne de Lure by dropping Julian Alaphilippe some three kilometers from the finish line. “I decided to attack because I knew that Julian Alaphilippe would have been faster than me in the sprint if we had arrived together. So I attacked several times with the aim of finishing alone, and it worked. The team worked really well and then it was my responsibility to attack,” said the Colombian.
The results: 1. Nairo Quintana (Arkéa-Samsic), 2. Julian Alaphilippe (Quick-Step Alpha Vynil), 3. Mattias Skjelmose Jesen (Trek-Segafredo)…
Stages won by: Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers), Elia Viviani (Ineos Grenadiers), Bryan Coquard (Cofidis), Nairo Quintana (Arkéa-Samsic)
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Tour of Oman: Masnada takes the lead after the 4th stage
The fifth stage of the Tour of Oman will see the climbers battle it out on Monday with the finish at the top of the famous Green Mountain, an ascent of nearly 6 kilometers at more than 10% average gradient. The battle promises to be fierce with riders like Jan Hirt and Rein Taaramäe (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux), Elie Gesbert (Arkéa-Samsic), Rui Costa (UAE Team Emirates), and Anthon Charmig (Uno-X). Winner of the fourth stage on Sunday, Fausto Masnada (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) will try to keep his leader’s jersey in the general classification: “I have worked hard all winter, so to be rewarded with a victory so early in the season is incredible,” confided the Italian. “Having the red jersey on my shoulders now is a big bonus. On Monday we will try to do our best to defend this leader’s jersey.”
The sixth and final stage will take place on Tuesday.
The current standings: 1. Fausto Masnada (Quick-Step Alpha Vynil), 2. Anthon Charmig (Uno-X Pro Cycling), 3. Jan Hirt (Intermarché Wanty-Gobert Matériaux)…
Stages won by: Fernando Gaviria (UAE Team Emirates), Mark Cavendish (Quick-Step Alpha Vynil), Anthon Charmig (Uno-X Pro Cycling), Fausto Masnada (Quick-Step Alpha Vynil)
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Vuelta Ciclista a la Region de Murcia Costa Calida: Alessandro Covi solo
The 42nd edition of the event saw the solo victory of Italian Alessandro Covi. At 23, the UAE Team Emirates rider earned his first professional victory in style. His teammate Matteo Trentin led the chasing group home ahead of Frenchman Matis Louvel (Arkéa-Samsic). “The last five kilometers were really very difficult but having the victory in sight made me go even faster. I really went for it. Mattéo (Trentin) finished second and Brandon (McNulty) rode a very good race, and so did all our teammates,” the winner enthused. Antonio Soto (Euskaltel Euskadi), the winner in 2021, suffered a mechanical incident in the final.
The results: 1. Alessandro Covi (UAE Team Emirates), 2. Mattéo Trentin (UAE Team Emirates), 3. Matis Louvel (Arkéa-Samsic)…
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Clasica de Almeria: Kristoff pips Bouhanni
Nacer Bouhanni (Arkéa-Samsic) came close to winning on his first outing this season. But the Clasica de Almeria in the end smiled this Sunday on the Norwegian Alexander Kristoff (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux), winner for the first time in his new team colors. Victorious in 2021, Giacomo Nizzolo (Israel-Premier Tech) completed the podium.
The results: 1. Alexander Kristoff (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux), 2. Nacer Bouhanni (Arkéa-Samsic), 3. Giacomo Nizzolo (Israel-Premier Tech)…
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Races to come:
Tour of Oman 10-15/02 www.tour-of-oman.com
Setmana Ciclista Valenciana 17-20/02 www.ccescapada.com
53e Tour des Alpes-Maritimes et du Var 18-20/02 www.tour06-83.com
Tour du Rwanda 20-27/02 www.tourdurwanda.rw
UAE Tour 20-26/02 www.theuaetour.com