Cycling: Maximilian Schachmann (Quick-Step Floors) gave his team the next victory - and his first success as a professional. In an almost hopeless situation, the German won the sixth stage of the Tour of Catalonia in front of his breakaway colleague Diego Rubio (Burgos-BH).
Schachmann & Rubio almost hopelessly on the run
After already the third stage of the Tour of Catalonia had to be shortened, the same fate met the sixth section. And this time an outlier should triumph: Maximilian Schachmann! But first things first: the first 77 kilometers of the stage were cancelled. This meant that the Port de Viu de Llevata was dropped from the program alongside the Tunelde Vielha. Only 117 kilometers remained. In the end, a tough hill stage turned into a day for the sprinters - at least that's what the few remaining fast men thought. In the pouring rain only two breakaways made their escape: The German Maximilian Schachmann (Quick-Step Floors) was accompanied by Diego Rubio (Burgos-BH). Actually easy prey for the peloton – actually!
Schachmann defies wind, rain & Bora-hansgrohe
With about 30 kilometers to go, the breakaway duo had a little more than two minutes' lead. When a wind squadron formed in the main field, it broke up into several groups. This ensured that the pace did not slow down until the finish line in Torrefarrera, but continued at a consistently high level. However, the wet roads in the narrow, small villages and the numerous roundabouts suited the duo, who worked well together until the final sprint. So it got tight up to the last few meters, because of course the strongest sprinters were no longer represented in the peloton. Bora-hansgrohe and Mitchelton-Scott were mainly involved in the tempo work. But it should be enough for the fugitives! Maximilian Schachmann finally won the two-man sprint in front of his colleague Diego Rubio. Only third place remained for Sam Bennett (Bora-hansgrohe). Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) successfully defended his leader's jersey.
#VoltaCatalunya Victoria for Maximilian Schachmann (QST)! Segundo Puesto para Diego Rubio (BBH)pic.twitter.com/yKY5LQZHbv
— Maillot Arcoiris (@MaillotArcoiris) March 24, 2018
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