Vuelta a Aragón (st. 2)

Movistar Team creates big selection in Zaragoza's finale, puts Jaime Rosón and Marc Soler into crucial advantage before Sunday's decisive climb to Cerler. Barbero 7th at sprint finish after late attack from Bennati.

The Movistar Team became a decisive factor of stage two in the 2018 Vuelta a Aragón, the longest in this year’s race over 194km between Huesca and Zaragoza. The squad directed by José Luis Jaimerena tore the bunch into pieces at the zone most exposed to the crosswinds, the last 20km from Villanueva de Gállego, and left barely twenty riders into the first group, with six members of the Blue outfit.

An early pull from Jaime Castrillo and the skills and intelligence of Arcas, Bennati and Carretero allowed Jaime Rosón and Marc Soler, the Telefónica-backed squad’s two main GC chances, getting a crucial few seconds against all other contenders, while Carlos Barbero was able to tackle the final sprint with easier position. ‘Benna’ went for a late attack, just before the ‘flamme rouge’, which was chased down at the very finishing straight. Carlos would end up as the day’s best Movistar Team performer in 7th place, behind winner Matteo Malucelli (ANS).

Barbero remains in 2nd overall, with four Blue riders -Rosón (4th), Soler (7th) and Carretero (9th, best young rider)- within the best ten before Sunday’s mountain showdown in Cerler. The slopes of the Alto del Ampriu (Cat-1) will decide a lumpy 126km route where the Movistar Team will continue to seek for the wins.

Picture (c): Vuelta a Aragón