Vuelta a Andalucía: Stage win for Coquard

The flattest of the five stages in the 2017 Vuelta a Andalucía -a 179km trek between La Campana and Sevilla, saw a stage win for Frenchman Bryan Coquard

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Vuelta a Andalucía: Stage win for Coquard

The flattest of the five stages in the 2017 Vuelta a Andalucía -a 179km trek between La Campana and Sevilla, saw a stage win for Frenchman Bryan Coquard. Overall leader Alejandro Valverde managed to keep the leader’s jersey in the Ruta del Sol by 1″ over Alberto Contador (TFS).

Bryan Coquard adds another sprint victory to his palmeres on the road

The biggest obstacle this Sunday for ‘Bala’ and his team should be the rain expected to fall over southern Spain, as the final stage -151km between Setenil de las Bodegas and Coín- covers two rated climbs in the beginning, as well as several other small ascents, yet is flatter at the end, with only the Alto de Jarapalos (Cat-3) notably featuring 15km from the finish.

Should he finish the final stage on top, Valverde will improve his already record-setting four GC victories in Andalucía, and reach the long-desired 100 pro wins. The six seconds between the 36-year-old Spaniard, Contador and Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) promise to turn the showdown into a real cracker.

Alejandro Valverde: “We got through this day without any misfortune. Obviously we had some stresses with such a fast finish, but all in all, it was good. I’ve got only one second over Alberto, and we must stay attentive so as not to find any dreadful surprises along the way. It’s going to be a really tough stage, with rain, difficult roads… full focus will be required.

“I would say the race is 80% won, but that 20% left for tomorrow is what really counts. Should we have expected good weather for tomorrow, most problems would be gone, but in such conditions, crashes, punctures and all that stuff can always appear. We must keep that in mind and not feel that anything is won before we cross that last finishing line.”

Stage
1. Bryan Coquard, Direct Energie
2. Daniel Hoelgaard, FDJ
3. Hugo Hofstetter, Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
4. Moreno Hofland, Lotto Soudal
5. Raymond Kreder, Roompot – Nederlandse Loterij
6. Mihkel Raim, Israel Cycling Academy
7. Roman Maikin, Gazprom-RusVelo
8. Maxime Farazijn, Sport Vlaanderen – Baloise
9. Rigoberto Uran, Cannondale-Drapac Pro Cycling Team
10. Eduard Prades, Caja Rural – Seguros RGA

14. Alejandro Valverde, Movistar Team
33. Mark Mcnally, Wanty – Groupe Gobert
106. Marcin Bialoblocki, CCC Sprandi Polkowice
121. Hugh Carthy, Cannondale-Drapac Pro Cycling Team

GC
1. Alejandro Valverde, Movistar Team
2. Alberto Contador, Trek – Segafredo
3. Thibaut Pinot, FDJ 0:06
4. Wout Poels, Team Sky 0:21
5. Diego Rosa, Team Sky 0:45

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