ProTeam Degenkolb second in Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana opening stage

Lotto Soudal rider fastest of the chasing group, Scotson takes solo win.
Race 14 April 2021

Lotto Soudal rider John Degenkolb finished second in the opening stage of the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana. The Australian rider Miles Scotson took a solo win, Degenkolb was the fastest of a sizeable chasing group and had to settle for second place, some thirty seconds later.

“The cold, rain and many altitude metres made for a tough first stage”, John Degenkolb began. “On the many climbs, we tried to hang on as long as possible and in the end, I managed to survive as the last rider of the team as I was part of the first group.”

With almost 3,000 altitude metres between Elche and Ondara, the riders were immediately faced with a tough opening stage. The hilly terrain in the Valencian hinterland caused serious splits in the bunch and at 40 kilometres to go, only a small group remained. The stage was decided at around twenty kilometres from the end, when the Australian Miles Scotson attacked and immediately opened up a sizeable gap. Despite a crash in the closing kilometres, Scotson held on and took a solo win. John Degenkolb proved to be the fastest of the chasing group and won the sprint for second place.

John Degenkolb: “I gave it a try in the sprint and was able to win it, but unfortunately there was still one rider in front. After a tactical final, a rider of Groupama-FDJ escaped and we didn’t manage to catch him back. Of course, it’s a pity that I couldn’t sprint for the win, but this performance is definitely good for the confidence.”

“Tomorrow should be a bunch sprint and I am really looking forward as with Caleb Ewan, we have one of the fastest riders on board. I can’t wait to support him in the best way possible.”

Due to back problems, Jasper De Buyst had to abandon early in the race. That means Lotto Soudal will start with five riders in Alicante tomorrow.

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