The 22-year-old is just six seconds from the white jersey.
An action-packed day around Sant Feliu de Guixols kick off proceedings at the 101st edition of the Volta a Catalunya, and that made it really difficult for a breakaway to form. Not even Alt de Santa Pellaia could help, the peloton cresting this first classified climb of the stage as one. It was only after the descent that a group rode away, but soon didn’t calm down behind, the bunch getting split in three groups in the crosswinds, which spurred a mad chase as several GC riders were caught on the wrong foot.
A regrouping took place with 60 kilometers remaining, also the escapees being reeled in at the same moment. Six riders took off shortly after, Pieter Serry being part of this new wave of attackers who stayed off the front until inside ten kilometers to go, when the few sprinters’ teams in the race brought them back.
Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl also joined the party and took over the reins two kilometers from the finish, bringing Andrea Bagioli in a good position for the mass gallop, where the young Italian concluded in fourth place, behind Michael Matthews (BikeExchange-Jayco), who took the win. It was Andrea’s third top 10 finish of the season, after the ones he got at the Saudi Tour, in February.
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele / Getty Images
