Lotto Soudal rider has won third stage of this season’s Volta a Catalunya after an impressive performance that earned him the overall race lead as well as mountains jersey.
De Gendt has now taken the lead from Valverde who won second stage. On the other hand, Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) was able to lead the chase group and take second place of the stage with Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) taking third.
“When I attacked I got more than two minutes, but with the headwind, it was so hard to stay away. I went really full for the last 30km. I didn’t think I could make it, but because I had some seconds, I really wanted to stay in the first group if they caught me. It’s incredible that I stayed away,” De Gendt said.
What a way to win my 10th worldtourrace. Happy and proud about my victory and looking forward to start in the leaderjersey tomorrow. @Lotto_Soudal @VoltaCatalunya
— Thomas De Gendt (@DeGendtThomas) March 21, 2018
His last performance at this year’s Volta a Catalunya
Unfortunately, Yates had to abandon the race after a sudden crash in the peloton during the last kilometre has spelled the end of the event for him. Even though he wasn’t able to cross the finish line due to the serious crash, in the official results of the stage, he was awarded the same time as the peloton, and is now 35 seconds behind first place.
Dave McPartland, Mitchelton-Scott sport director, said in an official statement: “Adam crashed just one kilometre from the finish, we tried to get him to ride to the finish but he couldn’t.
“He hit his back on the kerb and he tried to stand up but had to sit down again and had a lot of pain in his pelvis. He has gone to hospital now for checks.”
#VoltaCatalunya @SimonYatess sprints into second place on stage 3 as De Gendt (Lotto-Soudal) holds off the chase to take the stage win. @AdamYates7 crashed in the final kilometre- more info to follow soon. pic.twitter.com/vzSv5iG1HK
— Mitchelton-SCOTT (@MitcheltonSCOTT) March 21, 2018
