Stage for Richard Carapaz in the Volta a Catalunya | Other Sports | Sports

The Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz was left with the victory of the sixth stage of the Volta a Catalunya in a one-on-one with the Colombian Sergio Higuita (Bora-Hansgrohe), his adventure partner in a breakaway that began in the first section of the day.

Was the second win of the season for the locomotivebut the first in the UCI WorldTour after winning the title in the individual time trial at the national championships, in February

Carapaz climbed to the podium, but the general leadership passed into the hands of Higuita, that he will have to defend this Sunday in Barcelona.

Early movement in the peloton with a breakaway starring the two South Americans, still with 150 kilometers to go until the finish line in Cambrils.

In the first part of the journey, a reduced Ineos Grenadiers, due to casualties of Richie Porte, Michal Kwiatkowski and Pavel Sivakov due to health problems during the week, he got ahead of the group, a job he took advantage of the locomotive.

Without all the might of the British, Carapaz looked for the escape, He used the support of his partner Luke Plapp and with them came the Colombian champion.

the three runners scored in Coll de les Llebreswhen Plapp stayed and left the fight between the two South American riders.

With 100 kilometers aheadthe gap with the main batch counted up to 2 minutes 30 seconds.

Carapaz crossed first in the mountain prize in Coll de Capafonts and repeated scoring in the intermediate sprint of Prades. Higuita overtook the Ecuadorian in Coll de la Teixeta, with that he went on to lead the mountain prizes, and with the time of the escape he positioned himself as the general leader.

For the fourth day, the Colombian came out with a difference of 7 seconds against the Portuguese Joao Almeida (UAE-Team Emirates), while Carapaz kept 27 seconds.

To enter the final 20 kilometers, only Juan Ayuso (UAE) tried to reduce the difference, but the Spanish movement was cut short and was reached by the main lot in which Almeida and Nairo Quintana (Arkéa-Samsic), who alternated general leadership in the previous stages, maintained positions.

Solvency and relays of the Colombian champion and the Olympic gold allowed to control the advantage with the main batchalthough for the final stretch it dropped to a minute difference.

Higuita entered the last kilometer first, gauged the Ecuadorian’s intentions, but with 50 meters to go Carapaz attacked from the outside and beat the Monster to stay with the victory and a record of 4 hours 9 minutes 20 seconds.

“Very happy today, a hard endwith only two men in front finishing like this is great. We knew that it was a complicated task due to the hardness, a very broken terrain that we were very good at. Move everything nothing, that’s how it was and we bet well”, Said the cyclist from Carchen.

Second on the day Higuita’s time leaves him as the new leader of the racewith a difference of 16 seconds copper Carapaz, which rose to second place. Almeida fell to the third box, now with a difference of 52 seconds.

For its part, jonathan caicedo (EF Education-EasyPost) occupied box 99 on this day23 minutes 37 seconds from Carapaz, while in general, the Deer dropped to 72nd placewith 42 minutes 52 seconds difference against Higuita.

The last stage of the Catalan round will be run this Sunday with 138.6 kilometres, which will have two intermediate sprints in the first part of the day, and a circuit that will close in Barcelona with a total of six mountain awards.

“The day will be similar tomorrow, all or nothing”, advanced Carapaz. (D)