After resisting repeated attacks by his rivals on a thrilling final circuit around Montjuïc, Movistar Team’s Colombian rider Nairo Quintana added overall victory in the 2016 Volta a Catalunya to his two previous WorldTour one-week race wins, the 2013 Tour of the Basque Country and the 2015 Tirreno-Adriatico.
In winning the race, Quintana became the third Colombian rider to win the Volta a Catalunya. Quintana and his team were able to respond to all attacks from his rivals on the short (134km) and nervous seventh stage, with eight final circuits around Montjuïc.
In the first Intermediate Sprint of the day, Dan Martin (Etixx-Quick Step) clawed back another second to move within 17″ of the race lead. Four laps from the finish, Fabio Aru (Astana) attacked with Warren Barguil only to see their move neutralised by Chris Froome (SKY).
Froome’s acceleration led Quintana to chase him down and further moves by Alberto Contador (Tinkoff), Hugh Carthy (Caja Rural) and, with 4km to go and the end of the final climb in sight, Dan Martin again, failed to unseat Quintana, and the Colombian ended the day with his 7″ lead over Contador intact. The Irishman Martin joined them on the final podium.
The win gave Nairo his 25th win as a professional. It was his ninth GC and his third one-week stage-race at WorldTour level, all of them early-season events: the 2013 Tour of the Basque Country, the 2015 Tirreno Adriatico, and now the 2016 Volta a Catalunya. The winner of the 2014 Giro d’Italia will now take a small break.
Nairo Quintana: “I’m very, very happy. I have started the year well. This is really an incredible win, one of the hardest fought I’ve had in my career. Thanks to the team for their phenomenal work. We suffered for this and today we have been rewarded.”
“We started the day with more strength than legs. Three of our riders were ill, with José Herrada and Marc Soler down with flu, so we had to defend my race lead with five. It was as hard-fought a stage as I have ever ridden. I have won the Volta by just seven seconds, which isn’t a big margin and shows that my rivals were strong.”
“I wouldn’t say I’m getting ahead of myself. There are still many races to go, and we start them from zero, but having beaten all the big names who were here gives me confidence that I am doing things well with the focus on my dream of winning the yellow jersey.”
“Winning here in Catalunya also means that I am still growing, still maturing, and progressing towards the big goal that we have set this season. I will keep accumulating race days and hopefully reach the start of the Tour de France in good shape. I’ll be in the Basque Country, then at Liège and Romandie.”
“This win is dedicated to my team-mates Adriano Malori and Jonathan Castroviejo, wishing them both a full and speedy recovery. It is also for the fans, especially the Colombians.”
“A few years ago it was a surprise for me to see them here: now it feels normal, but it is still great to see them, not just here, in France too, and all over Europe. They are wonderful people.”
