Campenaerts leads LottoNL-Jumbo in Valenciana
The second stage in the Volta la Comunitat Valenciana was won by Daniel Martin (Etixx - Quick Step), who soloed up the final Alto de Fredes climb. Victor Campenaerts of Team LottoNL-Jumbo placed 40th and moved to 12th in the overall standings. Wout Poels (Team Sky) remains in the lead.
The second leg in Valencia can be called a traditional stage. Five riders moved free from the peloton early in the stage but their lead was never bigger than five minutes and they were caught on the final climb. Victor Campenaerts tried to defend his sixth place in the overall standings. Other riders tried their luck by attacking including José Herrada, but he was also caught. Martin placed his attack in the final kilometre. The 29-year-old held on to his lead and took his first victory of this season.
"We started the stage with the idea to position Victor at the front of the bunch at the foot of the final climb," Sport Director Addy Engels said after the race. "It was a long climb for him but he did not lose so much time and I am satisfied. Victor's main objective here was yesterday's time trial and to develop further in these kind of stage races. That he is now 12th in the standings is good. Then he can feel and experience how it is to defend a classification. In any case, it’s a good position to work from. "
Campenaerts was well supported during the stage by the experienced men of the team. The youngsters are developing, watching and learning in their first race of the season.
"The work of Dennis, Tom and Paul was perfect," Campenaerts said in the team bus. "They protected me perfectly from the wind today and dropped me off in the front at the foot of the climb. I feel good and was hoping for a high pace on the climb. Martin jumped in the last kilometre and nobody had an answer. Such an explosion is not my speciality. I am happy because I have not lost much time. I crashed yesterday but I feel okay. I don’t have any problems."
Tomorrow they will race a flat stage to Alzira.
"Tomorrow is a flat day, we'll work for Dylan,” said Campenaerts.
The second leg in Valencia can be called a traditional stage. Five riders moved free from the peloton early in the stage but their lead was never bigger than five minutes and they were caught on the final climb. Victor Campenaerts tried to defend his sixth place in the overall standings. Other riders tried their luck by attacking including José Herrada, but he was also caught. Martin placed his attack in the final kilometre. The 29-year-old held on to his lead and took his first victory of this season.
"We started the stage with the idea to position Victor at the front of the bunch at the foot of the final climb," Sport Director Addy Engels said after the race. "It was a long climb for him but he did not lose so much time and I am satisfied. Victor's main objective here was yesterday's time trial and to develop further in these kind of stage races. That he is now 12th in the standings is good. Then he can feel and experience how it is to defend a classification. In any case, it’s a good position to work from. "
Campenaerts was well supported during the stage by the experienced men of the team. The youngsters are developing, watching and learning in their first race of the season.
"The work of Dennis, Tom and Paul was perfect," Campenaerts said in the team bus. "They protected me perfectly from the wind today and dropped me off in the front at the foot of the climb. I feel good and was hoping for a high pace on the climb. Martin jumped in the last kilometre and nobody had an answer. Such an explosion is not my speciality. I am happy because I have not lost much time. I crashed yesterday but I feel okay. I don’t have any problems."
Tomorrow they will race a flat stage to Alzira.
"Tomorrow is a flat day, we'll work for Dylan,” said Campenaerts.
