News | Volta Valenciana • February 9, 2019
Volta Valenciana: Martin is fifth and moves up to fourth place in the General
Rui Costa gives his all in the final and makes it into the Top Ten in the classification
It was the stage everyone was waiting for, the one that was supposed to shape up the classification; and so it did. As riders took on the final, 3-kilometre climb to Alcalà-Alcossebre, which featured an average incline of 8.3% and some stretches as steep as 12%, the big names in the pack found their moment to shine, with the Brit Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) making the selection and putting everyone in their place at the finish line, starting with World Champion Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), then Pello Bilbao and Ion Izagirre (both from Astana), and the UAE Team Emirates’ own Daniel Martin.
The Irish climber made it to fourth place in the general classification,16” behind the new leader, Izagirre. Valverde is in second place and Bilbao is third. Rui Costa moved up to tenth place.
Tomorrow is the last fraction of this 70th edition of the Volta a la Comunidad Valenciana. The stage will cover 88 kilometres from Paterna to Valencia. The final will be a kermis for the fast wheelers, so there shouldn’t be any surprises in the final general classification.
4th stage arrival order:
1 Adam Yates (GBr) Mitchelton-Scott 4:54:57
2 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team s.t.
3 Pello Bilbao Lopez de Armentia (Spa) Astana Pro Team +2’’
4 Ion Izagirre Insausti (Spa) Astana Pro Team +3’’
5 Dan Martin (Irl) UAE Team Emirates +4’’
11 Rui Costa (Por) UAE team Emirates +30’’
General classification after the 4th stage:
1 Ion Izagirre Insausti (Spa) Astana Pro Team
2 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team +7’’
3 Pello Bilbao Lopez de Armentia (Spa) Astana Pro Team +7’’
4 Dan Martin (Irl) UAE Team Emirates +16’’
10 Rui Costa (Por) UAE team Emirates +48’’
