After the TTT, competitive performance for Atapuma on the mountains

Immediately after the team time trial, the riders in Volta a Catalunya faced a demanding stage which started from Matarò and finished in La Molina, 188 km of distance with three 1st category climbs in the final 75 km (Alt de Toses, 7% average degree, and the two passages on the ascent of La Molina, 11,6 km at4,3%).

UAE Team Emirates was at the start without Manuele Mori, whose withdrawal is explained by the physician of the team, Dr Antonio Angelucci: “At the end of the team time trial, Mori reported a pain at the right knee.
The clinical evaluation found a strain which will force the athlete to observe a short stop in order to avoid complications for the rest of the season. 
Mori will fly back to Italy, where he’ll undergo the necessary therapy with the support of the team’s medical staff“.

A breakaway of four riders (Serry, Berhane, Ackermann and Rubio) led the race since the early kilometers, with a maximum advantage of 7′.
The breakaway was neutralized on the final ascent by the main group of 40 riders, whose members were all the best climbers participating in the race, Meintjes and Atapuma included.

The very high speed did not allow attacks and the final 3 km were covered as the riders were fighting in a long sprint: Atapuma was brilliant and, after having tried an attack at -500 meters, he was 17th at 15″ to the winner Valverde; Meintjes was close to be able to exploit a perfect form, he obtained the 32nd place at 1’27”.

After the arrival, Atapuma (in photo, @polquesada22) with some fans at the start of the team time trial)explained that: “Today performance makes me happy because, despite the fact that today was only my fourth day in a month in a race, my legs gave me good feedbacks.
The pace of the best climbers group was very high, it was almost impossible to attack, so I waited for the last 500 meters to make an attempt: I hoped the opponents controlled each other for general classification reasons, unfortunately they did not hesitates and my action was soon neutralized.
Today stage gave me morale, I’ll try to exploit the chances which the next stages will offer to climbers“.

STAGE RESULTS
1- Valverde 5h07’12”
2- Martin D. s.t.
3- Yates A. 3″
4- Bardet s.t.
5- Zakarin s.t.
17- Atapuma 15″
32- Meintjes 1’27”, 68- Ait el Abdia 11’29”, 75- Conti 12’37”, 80- Niemiec s.t., 123- Bono 23’12”, 149- Durasek 24’44”, Mori dns

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1- Van Garderen 10h24’33”
2- Sanzhez 41″
3- Thomas 44″
4- Valverde 45″
5- Froome 49″
25- Atapuma 3’08”