Almeida takes top-5 in Catalunya

A good showing by João Almeida on stage 3 of the Volta Catalunya, 180,6 km from Olost to La Molina).
The Portuguese rider crossed the uphill finish in 5th, at 13” to the winner Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step) who came first in a duel with Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma).

UAE Team Emirates could rely on three cyclists in the head group on the last climb of the race (12,2 km at 4,4 %), namely João Almeida, Marc Soler and Adam Yates. When at 4,2 km from the arrival Evenepoel attacked, only Roglic could go along with him, while from the chasers group Soler was the most active in trying a solo move to bridge the gap, but the Spaniard from UAE Team Emirates could not reach the leading duo.
Soler was then 13th, Yates 16th.

In the general classification, Almeida still sits in 5th place, at 44” from Roglic.

Almeida: “I was not feeling so good today, I was paying for the big effort I made yesterday. I was actually happy to be with those guys in the front group, I survived today without losing time from the other riders involved in the battle for the top positions of the general classification. Friday will be another key day.
I think Evenepoel and Roglic were on another level today, nobody could follow them.”

Tomorrow’s stage will bring the riders from Llivia to Sabadell in 188,2 km with a 1st category climb in the early part of the course and two 3rd category climbs in the rest of the stage.

Volta a Catalunya – stage 3 results

1. Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step) 4h40’43”
2. Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) +2”
3. Giulio Ciccone (Trek-Segafredo) + 13”
5. João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) s.t.

Volta a Catalunya – general classification after stage 3
1. Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) 12h42’17”
2. Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step) s.t.
5. João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) +44”

In Belgium, Juan Sebastian Molano obtained a solid 9th place in a rainy day at the Classic Brugge-De Panne (211 km).
The World Tour clash was won by Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck), who won the sprint of four riders who took the lead of the race in the final kilometers.

The race was made demanding by the cold rain and by the high pace: in these conditions, UAE Team Emirates had present Molano and Pascal Ackermann, who were in the head bunch until the final part of the race.

In particular, Molano showed to have very good legs, being always in the heat of the race and reaching the line in the first chasing group.

Classic Brugge-De Panne – results

1. Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) 4h38’52”
2. Olav Kooij (Jumbo-Visma) s.t.
3. Yves Lampaert (Soudal-Quick Step) s.t.
5. Juan Sebastian Molano (UAE Team Emirates) +13”