Lennard Kämna wins his award in Manresa
March 26 th 2021 - 18:29
Many were the interesting names that appeared on the starting line of this historical edition of the Volta a Catalunya. Consecrated stars such as those who are competing in the overall classification and also riders such as the exciting German Lennard Kämna (Bora-hansgrohe), who today received his award with a great victory in the 5th stage of the Catalan race, with 201 kilometers very disputed between La Pobla de Segur and Manresa.
Kämna, 24, already knows what it is like to show off on the big stages after taking a victory in the last edition of the Tour de France, and has made use of this potential to solve a hard-fought day from the first to the last kilometer. On the way to the first difficulty of the day, the Coll de Comiols (3rd category), the bunch led by Ineos-Grenadiers has neutralized numerous breakaway groups with important names from the general standings.
It was not until the descent that two specialists such as Rémi Cavagna (Deceuninck-Quick Step) and Matej Mohoric (Bahrain Victorious) took the opportunity to definitely tighten the race and stand out with half a minute over a group of about 40 cyclists where none of the prominent names of the overall ranking were traveling.
The Catalans Marc Soler (Movistar Team) and David De Cruz (UAE Team Emirates) were some of the names that have been incorporated at the head of the race, where the best-placed cyclist in general was Mikel Bizkarra (Euskaltel-Euskadi). The counterattacks have been happening waiting for the final resolution in the emblematic mountain of Montserrat (1st category), which was crowned 26 kilometers from the finish, and that the powerful French rider Rémi Cavagna wanted to start alone.
The advantage gained by the time trial specialist was not enough in the final ascent due to the attacks of the numerous pursuing group, which had such outstanding climbers as Rigoberto Urán, Dan Martin, Steven Kruijswijk or Carlos Verona (Movistar Team), one of which he has had a few meters of advantage at the summit.
However, finally, the most skillful was Lennard Kämna (Bora-hansgrohe), who at the beginning of the descent took a few meters over his pursuers that he was able to endure until the finish line in Manresa to win a victory that he had already sought the day before in Port Ainé.
The group of favorites led by Alejandro Valverde has entered compact 1:59 behind the German, thus maintaining the leadership of Adam Yates (Ineos-Grenadiers), before another stage that is expected to be nervous on the 6th day, which will be played between Tarragona and Mataró.