PARIS – The Australian Kaden Groves (BikeExchange) was the fastest in the second stage of the Tour of Catalonia, Tuesday in Perpignan.
Norwegian Jonas Hvideberg (DSM) pocketed bonuses during the stage and stripped Australian Michael Matthews of the leader’s jersey.
Groves (23), who had never won in the WorldTour before, came up in the last meters the German Phil Bauhaus. Frenchman Hugo Hofstetter took third place.
In this 202 kilometer stage from Spain to France, the Briton Simon Yates found himself at the back 16 kilometers from the finish, following racing incidents (fall and mechanical incident). He finally conceded about thirty seconds to the other candidates for the final victory.
On Wednesday, the third stage returns to Spain on a 161 kilometer route between Perpignan and the resort of La Molina. The final ascent (12 km at 4.5%), which had seen the victory of Colombian Miguel Angel Lopez in 2019, leads to an altitude of 1691 meters.
Ranking of the 2nd stage :
1. Kaden Groves (AUS/BikeExchange), the 202 km in 4 h 44:28.
2. Phil Bauhaus (GER/BAH) mt
3. Hugo Hofstetter (FRA / ARK) mt
4. Ethan Vernon (GBR/QST) mt
5. Juan Sebastian Molano (COL/UAE) mt
6. Manuel Penalver (ESP/BUR) mt
7. Michael Matthews (AUS/BIK) mt
8. Steven Kruijswijk (NED/JUM) mt
9. Henri Vandenabeele (BEL/DSM) mt
10. Mattias Skjelmose (DEN/TRE) mt
…
12. Guillaume Martin (FRA/COF) mt
14. Jonas Hvideberg (NOR/DSM) mt
17. Nairo Quintana (COL/ARK) mt
21. Richard Carapaz (ECU/INE) mt
31. Alejandro Valverde (ESP/MOV) mt
34. Pavel Sivakov (FRA/INE) mt
35. Joao Almeida (POR/UAE) mt
39. Ben O’Connor (AUS/AG2) mt
84. Simon Yates (GBR/BIK) at 33.
General classification :
1. Jonas Hvideberg (NOR/DSM) 8:31:28.
2. Michael Matthews (AUS/BIK) at 01.
3. Hugo Hofstetter (FRA/ARK) 07.
4. Mattias Skjelmose (DEN/TRE) 11.
5. Juan Sebastian Molano (COL/UAE) 11.
6. Giulio Ciccone (ITA/TRE) 11.
7. Tobias Johannessen (DEN/NOR/UNO) 11.
8. Sergio Higuita (COL/BOR) 11.
9. Jan Bakelants (BEL/INT) 11.
10. Sam Oomen (NED/JUM) 11.
…
12. Nairo Quintana (COL/ARK) 11.
17. Pavel Sivakov (FRA/INE) 11.
19. Guillaume Martin (FRA/COF) 11.
20. Richard Carapaz (ECU/INE) 11.
23. Alejandro Valverde (ESP/MOV) 11.
24. Ben O’Connor (AUS/AG2) 11.
34. Joao Almeida (POR/UAE) 11.
63. Simon Yates (GBR/BIK) 44.
