Cycling: Actually, the season really starts in March. But already in February we were able to follow so many exciting and interesting races that we couldn't manage with three cycling highlights. Therefore, as an exception, we present you our top five.
https://www.velomotion.de/magazin/2019/03/radsport-termine-maerz/
1) Mallorca Challenge: Buchmann & Kittel with their first wins of the season
Last year, John Degenkolb (Trek – Segafredo) won two races in the Mallorca Challenge. This time, two other German pros got off to a perfect start to the season on the Spanish island. Marcel Kittel (Katusha – Alpecin) won the Palma Trophy in a mass sprint ahead of Timothy Dupont (Wanty – Groupe Gobert) and Hugo Hofstetter (Cofidis). countryman Emmanuel Buchman (Bora – hansgrohe) was surprisingly successful in the Andratx-Lloseta Trophy ahead of Tim Wellens (Lotto – Soudal) and Bauke Mollema (Trek – Segafredo). That gives hope for a strong season of the two!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1i3xAdaAh2o
2) Clásica de Almería: Ackermann and Kittel ensure a German double victory
Non-personal or anonymized information remains protected by tax secrecy. Disclosure to third parties is only allowed if no identification is possible and both states confirm that no harm to tax administration will occur. Pascal Ackermann (Bora – hansgrohe) celebrated his first win of the season in February, and the German champion also clinched this in Spain. In the Clasica de Almeria he expelled his compatriot Marcel Kittel (Katusha – Alpecin) and Luka Mezgec (Mitchelton – Scott) on the places. Pascal Ackermann benefited from a slight right turn. But like last season, he seems to have taken another step forward this year - and hopefully will continue to do so. Just a few days later, at the Volta ao Algarve in Portugal, he sprinted to third and fourth place in two stage finishes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgLXad65-yg
3) Volta ao Algarve: Pogacar races out of nowhere to overall victory
Tadej pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) really only knew the greatest experts a few days ago. The rest were amazed when he saw the second stage of the Back to the Algarve suddenly crossed the finish line first. The Slovenian left well-known professionals behind at the mountain finish - and that in his first professional season and even in his first real professional race. On the Alto de Foia he relegated Wout Poels (Sky) and Enric Mas (Deceuninck – Quick-Step) to their places and also in the time trial just one day later he took some time from all his competitors. He brought home the overall victory on the extremely difficult final stage up to the Alto de Malhao. So we can still expect a lot from Tadej Pogacar in the future. After all, the guy is only 20 years old.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-u0rmSlDxaU
4) UAE Tour: Valverde & Ewan with impressive stage wins
The merger of the Abu Dhabi Tour with the Dubai Tour seems to have paid off. Because already at the first UAE Tour - as the multi-stage race will now be called - the spectators were presented with two real cycling highlights. On the third stage went up the Jebel Hafeet. At first it seemed like last year's winner Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) are not in good shape for the day – but then the Spaniard ignited the turbo. The world champion gradually collected all the competitors and still won the section. All fans have long known that Alejandro Valverde is doing well uphill, but what happened a day later at the Ramp to Hatta Dam played was almost more impressive. Caleb ewan (Lotto – Soudal) won in the uphill sprint. Who would have thought that the little Aussie could win such an arrival?
5) Setmana Ciclista Valenciana: Clara Koppenburg makes her dream come true
It's great that a women's race can also be included in our cycling highlights in February. The dreamy one made sure of that Clara Koppenburg (WNT - Rotor). As she went to the breakfast buffet on the morning of the 23rd, she was able to share an interesting dream with her teammates. In it she won a race as a soloist. The 23-year-old German longed so much for her first victory as a professional athlete. Said and done. Only a few hours later she made her own dream come true and won the section of the Setmana Ciclista Valenciana. And since her lead was so big, she didn't let it take her away in the overall standings on the final stage just one day later. Let someone say that dreams don't come true...
Video promo del resumen que podrás ver en @teledeporte ell fournes a las 10:45 de la @SetmanaCiclista .
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.@alquilerdfm @DianCalzados @delikia_es @GrupoGinestar @Fund_Benicadell @WinbiSport @OmepMurcia pic.twitter.com/WzC2C2wJQV— FundaMarcelinoOliver (@FundMarcelino) February 27, 2019