Michael Alabsini (GreenEDGE) has won the Volta a Catalunya, defending a lead gained from victories on stage one and two to today’s finale in Barcelona.
The Swiss rode strongly during a mountainous final stage to claim a second overall victory in a stage race in their debut season, following January’s victory in the Tour Down Under.
Albasini said: “I had Daryl [Impey] with me on the final climb. He has been by my side throughout the entire week. Each of my teammates did everything we asked them to do. They rode an incredible race, and I’m happy to pay them back by finishing off the job with the win.”
“I need to thank the team for the work that they’ve done throughout the week. This is an important win for me personally and for the team. It would have been impossible without them.”
Julien Simon (Saur-Sojasun) won the final stage, repeating his victory of five, outsprinting Francesco Gavazzi (Astana) and Damiano Cunego (Lampre-ISD) to take the win.
The riders faced a category one climb and three category three climbs on the seventh and final stage.
An early breakaway containing nine riders left the peloton after just six kilometres and stayed away for about 75km, but were recaptured just 34km later.
Garmin Barracuda’s Tom Danielson and Luis Leon Sanchez (Rabobank) attempted to move clear, but the peloton arrived en masse at the foot of the final descent, just two kilometres from the line.
Volta a Catalunya – stage seven
1) Julien Simon (FRA) – Saur-Sojasun – 2:47.02
2) Francesco Gavazzi (ITA) – Astana
3) Damiano Cunego (ITA) – Lampre-ISD
4) Rigoberto Uran Uran (COL)- Team Sky
5) Robert Kiserlovski (CRO) – Astana
6) Jurgen Van Den Broeck (BEL) – Lotto-Belisol
7) Steven Kruijswijk (NED)- Rabobank
8) Romain Bardet (FRA)- AG2R La Mondiale
9) Maciej Paterski (POL) – Liquigas-Cannondale
10) Denis Menchov (RUS) – Katusha Team
Final standings
1) Michael Albasini (SWI) – GreenEDGE – 24:15.45
2) Samuel Sanchez (SPA) – Euskaltel-Euskadi + 1.30
3) Jurgen Van Den Broeck (BEL) – Lotto-Belisol + 1.32
4) Daniel Martin (IRL) – Garmin-Barracuda
5) Rigoberto Uran (COL) – Team Sky
6) Damiano Cunego (ITA) – Lampre-ISD
7) Robert Kiserlovski (CRO) – Astana
8) Matteo Carrara (ITA) – Vacansoleil-DCM
9) Dario Cataldo (ITA) – Omega Pharma-QuickStep
10) Sergio Pardilla (SPA) – Movistar
