Yates ready for new week of racing in Volta Ciclista a Catalunya
Team Visma | Lease a Bike is gearing up for the next stage race on the cycling calendar. The Dutch cycling team is setting its sights on Simon Yates in the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya. The Brit made his debut for the yellow-black brigade in Tirreno-Adriatico and looks ahead to seven days of racing in northeastern Spain together with sports director Marc Reef.
Stage races in the Spanish countryside are not unfamiliar to Yates. In the summer of 2018, the rider stood on the highest step of the Vuelta a España podium with the red leader's jersey around his shoulders. In addition, he rode the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya five times in the last seven years. His best result was the fourth place in the general classification in his successful 2018 year. That tastes like more for Yates, who rode in the Tirreno-Adriatico for the first time in a race on behalf of Team Visma | Lease a Bike.
“I really enjoyed that. Of course, it takes some getting used to in the beginning, but I had the feeling that I was getting better day by day. Of course there is not much time between the Tirreno-Adriatico and the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya. I'm really looking forward to pinning on a race number again so soon. I hope that I can improve my form a little bit in Spain”, Yates says.
"This race fits perfectly into Simon's planned route towards the Giro d'Italia"
In the seven-day stage race, which starts on Monday, March 24, and finishes in Barcelona on Sunday, March 30, sports director Reef will not be able to count on Jonas Vingegaard. The Dane crashed in the fifth stage of Paris-Nice and did not get back on his bike the next day due to an injury to his hand. “We initially had the plan to go for the overall victory in Spain with Jonas. It would be his first race together with Simon. Of course, it is unfortunate that he is not there, but we still have a strong team at the start in Sant Feliu de Guíxols”, Reef explains.
Matthew Brennan is Vingegaard's replacement. Last Thursday, the young Brit impressively won the Grand Prix de Denain. When stages in Spain turn into a sprint, he may go for his chance. “He has started his first season with our WorldTeam great with the second place in the opening stage of the Tour Down Under, the double victory in France two weeks ago and the win in Denain last week”, the sports director says with satisfaction. “Matthew is the fastest man in our selection here. He may be able to compete for the day's victory once, but we are not going to put any pressure on him. This will be another great week for his development.”
"It's great to pin on a race number again so soon"
“The eyes will be on Simon”, Reef emphasizes. “He is our advanced rider for the general classification. This race fits perfectly into his planned route towards the Giro d'Italia.” In Italy, Yates will be the leader of Team Visma | Lease a Bike. “In addition, Wilco and Sepp have both completed a good training block. I am curious about the form of both men. Perhaps Wilco, following Simon, can achieve a good result in the general classification.”
Yates is eager to race in familiar Spain again. “The course is similar to previous years, so I know what to expect. It's always nice to race on the training roads around my hometown in Andorra. Hopefully I can get a good general classification here. Together with the team, I'm going to do everything possible to achieve that”, the 32-year-old rider concludes.
