Movistar's Carapaz gets first pro win at Vuelta a Asturias - News Shorts
Movistar's Richard Carapaz scored his first win for the Spanish WorldTour team this weekend at the Vuelta a Asturias, a three-day 2.1 race that started Friday in Oviedo. The 24-year-old was fifth on the opening stage, won the queen stage to Alto del Acebo and was eighth on Sunday to secure the overall win.
Carapaz and Movistar had to fight off an eight-rider breakaway on the final day. The group included Ricardo Mestre (W52), who was less than two minutes off Carapaz's lead. In the end, the bunch that included Carapaz finished just 34 second behind the remaining two leaders.
"After yesterday's victory we knew we were holding a very decent gap, and my teammates controlled things really well so we could keep this jersey until the end," Carapaz said. "We were also keeping in mind that other squads had to join us at the front of the pack because the podium places were also at stake at the finish, and that's how we got others to work in the finale.
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"This is not a victory by myself, but a success achieved by the whole team," Carapaz said. "I'll always hold Asturias and this first big victory dear in my heart and memory. However, we must continue to work hard, so we can make sure other wins like this come in the future."
Carapaz said the team will enjoy the victory briefly before departing Tuesday for Israel and the Giro d'Italia, which begins May 4 with an opening time trial in Jerusalem.
"It's a three-week stage race and we will have to keep focus as well as remain calm in the first days," Carapaz said. "It's my second Grand Tour and I think all experience I got in the Vuelta last year will help me. I'm in good form, as shown here. I've trained a lot for this objective, and I hope we Blues can make ourselves visible during the race."
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