Remco Evenepoel defended the overall lead he had secured the day before on the fifth and final stage of the Volta Valencia, celebrating his first stage victory in the Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe jersey. Giulio Pellizzari also remained unbeatable at the top of the young rider classification. Meanwhile, Emil Herzog narrowly missed out on the stage victory, finishing second.
Emil was part of the breakaway group all day, which ultimately sprinted for victory with a minimal lead over the peloton. At one point, the 21-year-old even tried to go it alone. At the finish line, he was only half a bike length behind the winner.
Meanwhile, nothing changed in the overall standings. The team remained in control throughout the short but challenging 95 kilometres from Bétera to Valencia. Remco and Giulio were always on their guard, ensuring that the final standings remained unchanged in first and third place. With Aleksandr Vlasov in seventh place, a third professional from the team also made it into the top 10.
It was a super good week that started well with Arne on second place. And day by day weg get better, finishing lot of stage in the front. Now we are first and third in the final GC. It was an amaizing week in Valencia.
— Remco Evenepoel
We are really happy with the way the Boys defended the Jersey today. First and third – Yellow and White. After Yesterday it was an objective to keep both. Especially after the time Trial that didn’t count for GC, there was a little setback. But we won it and the guys kept the Moral very high.
The fact that Emil was in the breakaway today wasn’t really planed but it turned out well. In general we did more than we could ask from the riders.
— Klaas Lodewyck
