Prolifically successful French sprinter Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis) may have had to wait until his fourth race of the season, the Vuelta a Andalucia-Ruta Ciclista del Sol to step up onto a winner’s podium once more, but when he did so on Wednesday’s stage two, Bouhanni certainly had a lot to celebrate - in the shape of the stage win, the leader’s jersey and the points classification lead, all taken in one fell swoop.
Speaking to journalists after the ceremonies and as yet another heavy rainshower darkened the Cordoba skyline, the 25-year-old was in no doubt as to which part of the day’s haul felt most important - his first win since taking the last race of the European calendar, the Putte Kapelle, last October.
Sixth in Seville on stage 1, Bouhanni said he had a score to settle after Wednesday’s defeat, and on Thursday’s much more challenging finale, Bouhanni claimed the win in emphatic style ahead of both Fabio Felline (Trek Factory-Segafredo) and Ben Swift (Team Sky). That lead-out man Christophe Laporte could come home in fourth place, waving his arms aloft only underlined Cofidis domination of the situation.
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“After yesterday’s stage, I was really disappointed,” Bouhanni explained. “We completely missed our chance yesterday because it wasn’t clear where the last kilometre of the stage began, and I came out of the last roundabout [in the final kilometre of the stage] in 25th place.” - by which point, it was too late.
On stage 2’s much more physically challenging finale Bouhanni had no such difficulties. “This time I was taken right through the last kilometre by Christophe Laporte, and then all I had to do was step on the accelerator with 200 to go.”
Teamwork was equally important, Bouhanni said, on the earlier grinding ascent into the sierras of Cordoba for ensuring he would come through with as much energy as possible. “The whole squad did a great job of supporting me over the top of that climb and then bringing me back together for the final sprint.”
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