Rui Costa turned the established order upside down in the Volta Valenciana, winning the fifth stage and final general classification this Sunday. The 92 kilometer stage contained two main climbs in the first race half, among which La Frontera (5 km at 9%), the most demanding of the event.
It was at the foot of La Frontera, with 50 kilometer to go, that the competition between the GC favorites was opened. Eight riders managed to isolate themselves at the top, with Rui Costa following around 20 seconds later in the first chasing group. On his own, the Portuguese rider managed to bridge to the lead of the race downhill. He started the last 40 kilometer towards Valencia in a group chased by a peloton of around 30 riders, led by five riders of Bahrain-Victorious.
But the group managed to resist, maintaining a 20 second gap until the last two kilometer. It was at that moment that Rui Costa attacked, alongside Thymen Arensman, and was never caught back. The former world champion launched his sprint with 200 meter to go and won.
Seventh at 14 seconds of the yellow jersey at the start of the stage, he finally became the winner of the final classification with an advantage of 16 seconds to the second, offering Intermarché-Circus-Wanty the fifth and sixth victory of the season.
« I found a fresh impetus since my arrival within Intermarché-Circus-Wanty. This team believes in me and that motivates me a lot. Today I wanted to go for a good general classification. This very short stage promised to be intense and it was the case. I was distanced on the last climb, but without panicking I kept them in sight. Then I managed to come back downhill, on my own. The collaboration was not optimal in the front, because several teams had different aims. In the final 10 kilometer I motivated everyone to keep pushing and in the end we managed to resist to the big peloton behind. » « My intention was to attack in the final, to take advantage of a corner and see if I could win the stage. I didn’t know that I also won the general classification. This Volta Valenciana is a very nice race. I’m happy to win it against such a field of competitors. This season start is simply fantastic. After our brilliant collective performance on Mallorca, the party continues. Full of motivation I’m now going to the Figueira Classic and the Volta Algarve, two Portuguese riders. »
