After taking over the race lead on yesterday’s first mountain stage of the Volta a Catalunya, Alejandro Valverde has had a very short stint in the leader’s jersey due to a bad crash on today’s leg of the race.
The Movistar rider and his team-mate Eros Capecchi both fell approximately 119 kilometres into today’s 217 kilometre stage to Port Ainé, crashing on a descent. The race organisers had warned that the surface was narrow and lined with gravel.
Both riders withdrew as a result. According to general manager Eusebio Unzue, the injuries are not too severe. He said that the riders ‘have cuts and bruises all over the body, but we think it’s nothing serious.”
Valverde finished second yesterday to his team-mate Nairo Quintana, leading home a three man chase group six seconds back.
He took over the top of the general classification and began today’s stage with a four second lead over 2012 Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins (Sky).
His lead had been under attack today from a large break of riders which went clear early on. These included the ninth-placed rider overall, Dan Martin (Garmin-Sharp), who became race leader on the road.
Valverde has ridden well thus far this year, winning the Trofeo Serra de Tramuntana in Mallorca in February and then clocking up two stages plus the overall classification in the Vuelta a Andalucia later that month.
He won the Volta a Catalunya in 2009.