Ayuso takes big win in Catalunya as Molano steals the show at Classic Brugge-De Panne

Sebastian Molano took the biggest one-day victory of his career in Belgium, clinching victory in a photo finish with Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) at the end of the 195.6-kilometre Classic Brugge-De Panne.

The Emirati team were active throughout the day with Antonio Morgado stretching his legs ahead of the weekends cobbled classics to infiltrate the early breakaway which would stay clear until inside -10km to go.

Crashes would play a big role in the final section of the race, with many of the sprinting favourites hitting the tarmac on the hectic run-in. Molano would emerge as one of the survivors and seized his opportunity with a massive early sprint at 500m to go and holding off to take his first win of the year.

Molano: “I’m very happy. This finale is really really dangerous and fast. After the last corner I was in a good position after the small road. I tried, I looked at 500m, took the corner fast, and made a long sprint. I looked back and nobody was following, so I went full gas to the final. I had to dig very deep and just managed to hold on. It’s my first win of the season and also my biggest victory in a one day race so it’s really special. There were many crashes today and I hope everyone is okay, it was really crazy out there today.”

Classic Brugge-De Panne results

1.Sebastian Molano (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 4:07:23

2.Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) s.t

3.Madis Mihkels (Education-First) s.t

Meanwhile at the Volta a Catalunya, Juan Ayuso took his 5th victory of the season following an exciting sprint dual against Primož Roglič (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) at the summit finish at La Molina on stage 3. The pair crossed the line shoulder-to-shoulder, with Ayuso finally awarded the win and now moves into to the leaders jersey ahead of stage 4.

Marc Soler was chief animator on the final climb, attacking the race in trademark style and softening up the competition. The Catalan snuck away with Sepp Kuss (Visma LAB) and Lorenzo Fortunato (XDS-Astana) but were overhauled inside the final kilometre.

As Soler led out the sprint it was Roglič who launched first, but a fast turn of pace from Ayuso in the dying metres saw the Spaniard just come out on top. Mikel Landa (Soudal-QuickStep)rounded out the podium in third. Ayuso now holds a 6” advantage over Roglic ahead of the races second mountain finish tomorrow.

Ayuso:  ” I managed to win against a great rival. I felt I had to after the team did such an amazing job. My aunt passed away last week so I’d like to dedicate this victory to her. I was only thinking of her in the last kilometre. 

The final here is very tricky because you really need to be in front in the last turn and I wasn’t. Primoz showed himself as a true champion as he didn’t close me off and behaved himself and it was a fair sprint, so chapeau to him for that. I’m glad I could manage to come around him.”

Volta a Catalunya Stage 3 results (& GC standings)

1.Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 5:49:29

2.Primoz Roglic (Red Bull BORA-hansgrohe) s.t

3.Mikel Landa (Soudal-Quickstep) +2”