March 29, 2014 (Vilanova i la Geltrú, Spain) – Stef Clement triumphed in the sixth stage of the Volta a Catalunya today. The Dutchman brought the Belkin Pro Cycling TEAM the seventh victory of the season, this one in the WorldTour, with a vicious attack in the final kilometres.
Clement was part of the break the day’s escape in the 163-kilometre stage from El Vendrell to Vilanova i la Geltrúdeel. In the finale, when it became clear that the peloton would not be able to catch the escape, it started raining attacks. Clement’s punch turned out to be decisive.
“I don’t win many races, so this is great. The fact that this is a WorldTour race makes it extra special,” said Clement. “I’m going to enjoy this to the fullest. This victory is a nice reward for the team. We’ve had some bad luck as Wilco dropped out of the top ten after a crash, but we have shown resilience and were in every break in the last few days. This win makes up for all the bad luck. I really feel that the guys are happy for me.”
Compliments
Clement received compliments from his fellow escapees right after the race. “They all came up to me to congratulate me and they said that I had just been the strongest today. In the last few kilometres, it was a kind of game, though it wasn’t only wisdom. Just being strong can bring you a long way. Because I don’t often get in this position, I felt some pressure, but fortunately everything fell into place.”
Mountain jersey
Clement celebrated his victory in the red mountain jersey. Today he gained some more points and strengthened his lead in the classification. The Dutchman, however, knows that a tough final day awaits him tomorrow.
“It would be foolish not to fight for the jersey as today I had to work hard for the points, it took a lot of power. But, honestly, I haven’t really thought about it just yet. First, I want to enjoy this victory!”
WorldTour
Frans Maassen was very happy with Clement’s victory. “This year our focus is centrered on the WorldTour, so this win is great. It’s always nice to achieve your objectives. The way Stef claimed the victory, in the mountain jersey, made everything extra special. That gave me a real a kick.”
Hofland lends a hand
Maassen was supported by Moreno Hofland, who was watching the race at home on television. “That was nice, because our TVs didn’t work in the car,” he said.
Crash Ten Dam
Laurens ten Dam didn’t end the stage unscathed. The Dutchman was hit by a team car when he tried to return to the peloton after a bathroom break. “But Lau is a tough guy and despite some scratches he will be able to start tomorrow.”
Montjuïc
Maassen looks forward to tomorrow, when the peloton will conclude the Volta a Catalunya with a tough stage that leads the pack several times over the famous Montjuïc. “Tomorrow will be an elimination race. We hope to get in the mix on several areas. We want to bring Wilco back into the top ten and with Stef, we hope to secure the mountain jersey. Hopefully Paul Martens can get in the mix for the stage victory.”
Results
1. Stef Clement (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 3:58:44
2. Rudy Molard (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits 00:03
3. Pieter Serry (Bel) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team
4. Jens Voigt (Ger) Trek Factory Racing
5. Marek Rutkiewicz (Pol) CCC Polsat Polkowice
6. Antonio Piedra Perez (Esp) Caja Rural – Seguros RGA
7. Pierre Rolland (Fra) Team Europcar
8. Damien Howson (Aus) Orica GreenEdge
9. Nico Sijmens (Bel) Wanty – Groupe Gobert 00:09
10. Tosh Van Der Sande (Bel) Lotto Belisol 00:55
11. Kévin Reza (Fra) Team Europcar
12. Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team
13. Daniele Ratto (Ita) Cannondale
14. Michel Kreder (Ned) Wanty – Groupe Gobert
15. Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
16. Paul Martens (Ger) Belkin Pro Cycling Team
17. Roberto Ferrari (Ita) Lampre-Merida
18. Anthony Roux (Fra) FDJ.fr
19. Davide Vigano (Ita) Caja Rural – Seguros RGA
20. Leigh Howard (Aus) Orica GreenEdge
21. Warren Barguil (Fra) Team Giant-Shimano
22. Adam Yates (Gbr) Orica GreenEdge
23. Koldo Fernandez (Esp) Garmin Sharp
24. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale
25. Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas (Col) Movistar Team
26. Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
27. Fumiyuki Beppu (Jpn) Trek Factory Racing
28. Marcus Burghardt (Ger) BMC Racing Team
29. Mikael Cherel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
30. Julian Kern (Ger) AG2R La Mondiale
31. Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team
32. Cristiano Salerno (Ita) Cannondale
33. Christian Meier (Can) Orica GreenEdge
34. Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Esp) Team Katusha
35. Christopher Froome (Gbr) Team Sky
36. Alberto Contador Velasco (Esp) Tinkoff-Saxo
37. Johannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Team Giant-Shimano
38. Adrian Honkisz (Pol) CCC Polsat Polkowice
39. Luis Angel Mate Mardones (Esp) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
40. Andrew Talansky (USA) Garmin Sharp
41. Stéphane Poulhies (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
42. Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) Trek Factory Racing
43. Valerio Agnoli (Ita) Astana Pro Team
44. Angel Madrazo Ruiz (Esp) Caja Rural – Seguros RGA
45. Cédric Pineau (Fra) FDJ.fr
46. Bruno Pires (Por) Tinkoff-Saxo
47. David Arroyo Duran (Esp) Caja Rural – Seguros RGA
48. Luka Mezgec (Slo) Team Giant-Shimano
49. Jonathan Castroviejo Nicolas (Esp) Movistar Team
50. Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team
51. Gregory Habeaux (Bel) Wanty – Groupe Gobert
52. George Bennett (Nzl) Cannondale
53. Eduard Vorganov (Rus) Team Katusha
54. Stig Broeckx (Bel) Lotto Belisol
55. Amets Txurruka (Esp) Caja Rural – Seguros RGA
56. David Lopez Garcia (Esp) Team Sky
57. Romain Hardy (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
58. Sander Armee (Bel) Lotto Belisol
59. Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) Team Sky
60. Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team
61. Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team
62. Alberto Losada Alguacil (Esp) Team Katusha
63. Martin Kohler (Sui) BMC Racing Team
64. Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ.fr
65. Samuel Sanchez (Esp) BMC Racing Team
66. Darwin Atapuma Hurtado (Col) BMC Racing Team
67. Cayetano José Sarmiento Tunarrosa (Col) Cannondale
68. Lawrence Warbasse (USA) BMC Racing Team
69. Ben Gastauer (Lux) AG2R La Mondiale
70. Maciej Paterski (Pol) CCC Polsat Polkowice
71. Arnold Jeannesson (Fra) FDJ.fr
72. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin Sharp
73. Lukasz Owsian (Pol) CCC Polsat Polkowice
74. Serge Pauwels (Bel) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team
75. Javier Alexis Acevedo Colle (Col) Garmin Sharp
76. Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Esp) Team Katusha
77. Branislau Samoilau (Blr) CCC Polsat Polkowice
78. Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Astana Pro Team
79. Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
80. Mikel Landa Meana (Esp) Astana Pro Team
81. Andrey Zeits (Kaz) Astana Pro Team
82. Carlos Verona (Esp) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team
83. Mateusz Taciak (Pol) CCC Polsat Polkowice
84. Thomas Degand (Bel) Wanty – Groupe Gobert
85. Natnael Berhane (Eri) Team Europcar
86. Angel Vicioso Arcos (Esp) Team Katusha
87. Ruben Plaza Molina (Esp) Movistar Team
88. José Herrada Lopez (Esp) Movistar Team
89. Jérémy Roy (Fra) FDJ.fr
90. Martijn Keizer (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team
91. Michel Koch (Ger) Cannondale
92. Davide Rebellin (Ita) CCC Polsat Polkowice
93. Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Team Katusha
94. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team
95. Daniel Navarro Garcia (Esp) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
96. Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin Sharp
97. Winner Anacona Gomez (Col) Lampre-Merida
98. Yoann Bagot (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
99. Jhoan Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica GreenEdge
100. Peter Stetina (USA) BMC Racing Team
101. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Lotto Belisol
102. Luis Leon Sanchez (Esp) Caja Rural – Seguros RGA
103. Jesus Hernandez Blazquez (Esp) Tinkoff-Saxo
104. Davide Malacarne (Ita) Team Europcar
105. Rigoberto Uran (Col) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team
106. Kristof Vandewalle (Bel) Trek Factory Racing
107. Sébastien Minard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
108. Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team
109. Perrig Quemeneur (Fra) Team Europcar
110. Sergio Miguel Moreira Paulinho (Por) Tinkoff-Saxo
111. Jussi Veikkanen (Fin) FDJ.fr
112. Pavel Brutt (Rus) Team Katusha
113. Boris Vallee (Bel) Lotto Belisol
114. Bart De Clercq (Bel) Lotto Belisol
115. Kristijan Durasek (Cro) Lampre-Merida
116. Ivan Basso (Ita) Cannondale
117. Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez (Col) Lampre-Merida
118. Nathan Brown (USA) Garmin Sharp
119. Danny Pate (USA) Team Sky
120. Petr Vakoc (Cze) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team
121. Rory Sutherland (Aus) Tinkoff-Saxo 01:12
122. Chad Haga (USA) Team Giant-Shimano 02:06
123. Thomas Damuseau (Fra) Team Giant-Shimano 02:54
124. Javier Moreno Bazan (Esp) Movistar Team 03:25
125. Pablo Lastras Garcia (Esp) Movistar Team
126. Eros Capecchi (Ita) Movistar Team
127. Yannick Eijssen (Bel) BMC Racing Team
128. Sam Bewley (Nzl) Orica GreenEdge
129. Jean Marc Marino (Fra) Cannondale 03:30
130. Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 03:34
131. Jérôme Baugnies (Bel) Wanty – Groupe Gobert 03:41
132. Jan Polanc (Slo) Lampre-Merida
133. Thomas Peterson (USA) Team Giant-Shimano 05:17
134. Francis De Greef (Bel) Wanty – Groupe Gobert 09:14
135. Chris Anker Sörensen (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo
136. Marcos Garcia (Esp) Caja Rural – Seguros RGA
137. Fredrik Carl Wilhelm Kessiakoff (Swe) Astana Pro Team
138. Nathan Earle (Aus) Team Sky
139. Jack Bobridge (Aus) Belkin Pro Cycling Team
140. Kenny Elissonde (Fra) FDJ.fr
141. Igor Anton (Esp) Movistar Team
142. Phillip Gaimon (USA) Garmin Sharp
143. Heiner Rodrigo Parra Bustamente (Col) Caja Rural – Seguros RGA
144. Maxime Mederel (Fra) Team Europcar
145. Alexsandr Dyachenko (Kaz) Astana Pro Team 11:13
146. Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar
147. Maxim Belkov (Rus) Team Katusha 13:20
DNS Tomasz Marczynski (Pol) CCC Polsat Polkowice
DNS Cameron Wurf (Aus) Cannondale
DNS Pawel Poljanski (Pol) Tinkoff-Saxo
DNF Cheng Ji (Chn) Team Giant-Shimano
DNF Georg Preidler (Aut) Team Giant-Shimano
DNF Mikel Nieve Ituralde (Esp) Team Sky
GC after stage 6
1. Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Esp) Team Katusha 27:03:13
2. Alberto Contador Velasco (Esp) Tinkoff-Saxo 00:04
3. Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team 00:07
4. Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 00:10
5. Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas (Col) Movistar Team
6. Christopher Froome (Gbr) Team Sky 00:17
7. Andrew Talansky (USA) Garmin Sharp 00:18
8. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale 00:26
9. Warren Barguil (Fra) Team Giant-Shimano 00:42
10. Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) Trek Factory Racing 00:48
11. David Arroyo Duran (Esp) Caja Rural – Seguros RGA 00:51
12. Valerio Agnoli (Ita) Astana Pro Team 01:00
13. Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 01:01
14. Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ.fr 01:20
15. Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Esp) Team Katusha 01:22
16. Luis Angel Mate Mardones (Esp) Cofidis, Solutions Credits 01:24
17. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin Sharp 01:26
18. Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team 01:43
19. Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin Sharp 01:49
20. David Lopez Garcia (Esp) Team Sky 01:54
21. Sander Armee (Bel) Lotto Belisol 01:58
22. Amets Txurruka (Esp) Caja Rural – Seguros RGA 02:17
23. Daniel Navarro Garcia (Esp) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
24. Carlos Verona (Esp) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team 02:55
25. Adam Yates (Gbr) Orica GreenEdge 03:00
26. Ivan Basso (Ita) Cannondale 03:16
27. Mikael Cherel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 03:24
28. Bart De Clercq (Bel) Lotto Belisol 03:35
29. Rigoberto Uran (Col) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team 04:16
30. Yoann Bagot (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits 04:18
31. José Herrada Lopez (Esp) Movistar Team 04:34
32. Luis Leon Sanchez (Esp) Caja Rural – Seguros RGA 04:36
33. Arnold Jeannesson (Fra) FDJ.fr 05:21
34. George Bennett (Nzl) Cannondale 06:46
35. Peter Stetina (USA) BMC Racing Team 07:05
36. Pierre Rolland (Fra) Team Europcar 07:23
37. Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team 07:25
38. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Lotto Belisol 07:54
39. Pieter Serry (Bel) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team 07:57
40. Darwin Atapuma Hurtado (Col) BMC Racing Team 08:08
41. Davide Malacarne (Ita) Team Europcar 08:15
42. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 09:09
43. Mikel Landa Meana (Esp) Astana Pro Team 09:26
44. Jonathan Castroviejo Nicolas (Esp) Movistar Team 09:41
45. Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Team Katusha 10:18
46. Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez (Col) Lampre-Merida 11:19
47. Jhoan Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica GreenEdge 11:34
48. Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits 12:06
49. Kristijan Durasek (Cro) Lampre-Merida 12:22
50. Ruben Plaza Molina (Esp) Movistar Team 12:33
51. Branislau Samoilau (Blr) CCC Polsat Polkowice 13:59
52. Christian Meier (Can) Orica GreenEdge 14:11
53. Stef Clement (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 15:01
54. Alberto Losada Alguacil (Esp) Team Katusha 16:50
55. Samuel Sanchez (Esp) BMC Racing Team 16:53
56. Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) Team Sky 17:50
57. Winner Anacona Gomez (Col) Lampre-Merida 17:53
58. Ben Gastauer (Lux) AG2R La Mondiale 18:07
59. Lawrence Warbasse (USA) BMC Racing Team 18:14
60. Davide Rebellin (Ita) CCC Polsat Polkowice 18:29
61. Igor Anton (Esp) Movistar Team 19:01
62. Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 19:54
63. Cayetano José Sarmiento Tunarrosa (Col) Cannondale 20:13
64. Paul Martens (Ger) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 20:48
65. Javier Alexis Acevedo Colle (Col) Garmin Sharp
66. Jesus Hernandez Blazquez (Esp) Tinkoff-Saxo 21:43
67. Jérémy Roy (Fra) FDJ.fr 21:48
68. Javier Moreno Bazan (Esp) Movistar Team 21:57
69. Rudy Molard (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits 22:36
70. Jens Voigt (Ger) Trek Factory Racing 22:37
71. Andrey Zeits (Kaz) Astana Pro Team 22:55
72. Rory Sutherland (Aus) Tinkoff-Saxo 23:52
73. Johannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Team Giant-Shimano 24:53
74. Maxime Mederel (Fra) Team Europcar 24:55
75. Martin Kohler (Sui) BMC Racing Team 25:02
76. Chris Anker Sörensen (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo
77. Adrian Honkisz (Pol) CCC Polsat Polkowice 25:10
78. Heiner Rodrigo Parra Bustamente (Col) Caja Rural – Seguros RGA 25:18
79. Nathan Brown (USA) Garmin Sharp 26:08
80. Jan Polanc (Slo) Lampre-Merida 26:09
81. Cristiano Salerno (Ita) Cannondale 26:10
82. Koldo Fernandez (Esp) Garmin Sharp 26:35
83. Maciej Paterski (Pol) CCC Polsat Polkowice 26:36
84. Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team 27:15
85. Martijn Keizer (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 27:27
86. Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Astana Pro Team 27:41
87. Tosh Van Der Sande (Bel) Lotto Belisol 27:56
88. Kristof Vandewalle (Bel) Trek Factory Racing 27:59
89. Romain Hardy (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits 29:13
90. Francis De Greef (Bel) Wanty – Groupe Gobert 29:40
91. Kévin Reza (Fra) Team Europcar 29:49
92. Eduard Vorganov (Rus) Team Katusha 30:35
93. Thomas Degand (Bel) Wanty – Groupe Gobert 31:06
94. Nico Sijmens (Bel) Wanty – Groupe Gobert 32:33
95. Perrig Quemeneur (Fra) Team Europcar 32:54
96. Serge Pauwels (Bel) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team 32:56
97. Mateusz Taciak (Pol) CCC Polsat Polkowice 33:03
98. Stig Broeckx (Bel) Lotto Belisol 33:38
99. Fumiyuki Beppu (Jpn) Trek Factory Racing 33:51
100. Angel Madrazo Ruiz (Esp) Caja Rural – Seguros RGA 33:53
101. Marek Rutkiewicz (Pol) CCC Polsat Polkowice 34:01
102. Damien Howson (Aus) Orica GreenEdge 34:19
103. Eros Capecchi (Ita) Movistar Team 34:21
104. Daniele Ratto (Ita) Cannondale 34:33
105. Davide Vigano (Ita) Caja Rural – Seguros RGA 34:37
106. Yannick Eijssen (Bel) BMC Racing Team 35:00
107. Thomas Damuseau (Fra) Team Giant-Shimano 35:11
108. Marcos Garcia (Esp) Caja Rural – Seguros RGA 35:32
109. Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 35:37
110. Cédric Pineau (Fra) FDJ.fr 35:41
111. Kenny Elissonde (Fra) FDJ.fr 35:59
112. Sébastien Minard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 36:17
113. Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team 36:26
114. Lukasz Owsian (Pol) CCC Polsat Polkowice 36:37
115. Sergio Miguel Moreira Paulinho (Por) Tinkoff-Saxo 36:48
116. Luka Mezgec (Slo) Team Giant-Shimano 36:57
117. Angel Vicioso Arcos (Esp) Team Katusha 37:12
118. Boris Vallee (Bel) Lotto Belisol 37:18
119. Marcus Burghardt (Ger) BMC Racing Team 37:29
120. Natnael Berhane (Eri) Team Europcar 37:33
121. Phillip Gaimon (USA) Garmin Sharp 37:55
122. Chad Haga (USA) Team Giant-Shimano 38:15
123. Gregory Habeaux (Bel) Wanty – Groupe Gobert 39:10
124. Michel Kreder (Ned) Wanty – Groupe Gobert 39:15
125. Antonio Piedra Perez (Esp) Caja Rural – Seguros RGA 39:20
126. Julian Kern (Ger) AG2R La Mondiale 41:06
127. Bruno Pires (Por) Tinkoff-Saxo
128. Roberto Ferrari (Ita) Lampre-Merida 41:32
129. Jussi Veikkanen (Fin) FDJ.fr 42:10
130. Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar 42:23
131. Nathan Earle (Aus) Team Sky 42:43
132. Michel Koch (Ger) Cannondale 42:45
133. Pavel Brutt (Rus) Team Katusha 43:37
134. Petr Vakoc (Cze) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team 45:52
135. Pablo Lastras Garcia (Esp) Movistar Team 45:55
136. Jérôme Baugnies (Bel) Wanty – Groupe Gobert 46:10
137. Fredrik Carl Wilhelm Kessiakoff (Swe) Astana Pro Team 49:25
138. Jean Marc Marino (Fra) Cannondale 49:56
139. Danny Pate (USA) Team Sky 51:25
140. Jack Bobridge (Aus) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 51:46
141. Anthony Roux (Fra) FDJ.fr 53:30
142. Maxim Belkov (Rus) Team Katusha 56:03
143. Leigh Howard (Aus) Orica GreenEdge 59:41
144. Stéphane Poulhies (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits 1:03:50
145. Thomas Peterson (USA) Team Giant-Shimano 1:04:59
146. Sam Bewley (Nzl) Orica GreenEdge 1:12:06
147. Alexsandr Dyachenko (Kaz) Astana Pro Team 1:19:33