With a mountainous finish in a special category pass, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) won the second stage of the Volta a Catalunya 2024, which took place between Mataró and the winter resort of Vallter 2000, with 185.6 kilometers of route and two categorized passes, one of second and one special, located in the middle of the finish line.
The Slovenian invested a time of 4 hours, 52 minutes, 38 seconds to win in a difficult finish, where the cold and the snow were the main actors of the day. Second came the Spanish Mikel Landa, (Soudal Quick-Step) and the Russian Aleksandr Vlasov (BORA – Hansgrohe) reported in third position.
As for the Colombians, Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) was the best rider in seventh place, followed by Einer Rubio (Movistar) in eleventh place and Nairo Quintana (Movistar) in 18th place.
In the individual general classification, Tadel Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) took command and accumulated a time of 9 hours, 3 minutes, 57 seconds, followed by Mikel Landa (Soudal Quick-Step) and Aleksandr Vlasov (BORA – Hansgrohe) at 1:35 and 1:38, respectively. While Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) is 7th 2:02 behind the leader.
The breakaway of the day was led by Sainbayar Jambaljamts (Burgos BH), Alex Jaime (Team Kern Pharma), Samuel Fernández (Team Caja Rural-RGA), Xabier Isasa (Euskaltel Euskadi Team), Jimmy Janssens (Alpecin-Deceuninck Cycling Team) Kevin Colleoni (Intermarché-Wanty).
In the first mountain stage of the day on the Coll de Coubet, Spaniard Samuel Fernández (Caja Rural – Seguros RGA) finished first, escorted by Belgian Jimmy Janssens (Alpecin – Deceuninck). Third came Mongolian Jambaljamts Sainbayar (Burgos – BH).
In the first ramps of the final climb Samuel Fernandez (Caja Rural – Seguros RGA) was unhooked and the Belgian Jimmy Janssens (Alpecin – Deceuninck) started the climb alone.
Eight kilometers from the finish the last breakaway was neutralized by the favorites, where the two-time Tour de France champion, Tadej Pogacar, was the one who had the most strength and remains to claim another victory in the season.
The 103rd edition of the Catalan round will continue this Wednesday with its third stage, another mountainous fraction with a route of 176.7 kilometers between Sant Joan de les Abadesses and Port Ainé, a special category pass (18.4 km at 6.7%).
Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2024 (2.UWT)
Results Stage 2 | Mataró – Vallter 2000 (186,5 km)
| 1 | Tadej Pogačar | UAE Team Emirates | 4:52:37 |
| 2 | Mikel Landa | Soudal Quick-Step | 1:23 |
| 3 | Aleksandr Vlasov | BORA – hansgrohe | 1:24 |
| 4 | João Almeida | UAE Team Emirates | 1:38 |
| 5 | Lenny Martinez | Groupama – FDJ | 1:43 |
| 6 | Chris Harper | Team Jayco AlUla | 1:44 |
| 7 | Egan Bernal | INEOS Grenadiers | 1:47 |
| 8 | Enric Mas | Movistar Team | 1:49 |
| 9 | Wout Poels | Bahrain – Victorious | 2:03 |
| 10 | José Manuel Díaz | Burgos – BH | ,, |
Los protagonistas de la fuga en el segundo día de la ronda catalana. (Foto © Volta a Catalunya)
Ranking General
| 1 | Tadej Pogačar | UAE Team Emirates | 9:03:57 |
| 2 | Mikel Landa | Soudal Quick-Step | 1:35 |
| 3 | Aleksandr Vlasov | BORA – hansgrohe | 1:38 |
| 4 | João Almeida | UAE Team Emirates | 1:56 |
| 5 | Lenny Martinez | Groupama – FDJ | 2:01 |
| 6 | Chris Harper | Team Jayco AlUla | 2:02 |
| 7 | Egan Bernal | INEOS Grenadiers | ,, |
| 8 | Enric Mas | Movistar Team | 2:07 |
| 9 | Sepp Kuss | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | 2:21 |
| 10 | José Manuel Díaz | Burgos – BH | ,, |
Source: Revista Mundo Ciclístico