Joao Almeida loses leadership in Volta Catalunya

The Portuguese rider from the UAE is still on the podium in the Spanish event

Sergio Higueta is the new captain of the Volta Catalunya after the sixth stage, which was won by Richard Carapaz.

The Portuguese and Emirati cyclist could not avoid escaping more than 100 km from Higuita (Bora) and Carapaz (Ineos), while Joao Almeida slipped to third in the overall standings, 52 seconds off the first place.

In the sixth stage of the race, the Portuguese experienced real hell because Ineos sped the race more than 130 kilometers from the finish. Carapaz, ninth overall, will self-isolate and with him took third place, Hijita, from Bora.

Runaways hit the 3m30s, and Rui Costa was one of the UAE’s most successful and was cutting time. It is not enough to catch up with the duo.

In the sprint race, Carapaz won the stage, added ten seconds of bonus and became the Olympic champion in second place. Sergio Higuita hit a five-second bonus in the intermediaries, added six more at the finish line and took the lead.

Arkia’s Nairo Quintana still attacked and climbed onto the podium from Joao Almeida, but the A-Dos-Francos cyclist responded well, staying ahead of the Colombian overall by a second.

The Almeida group reached 48 seconds with the Portuguese Higuita 52 seconds behind and 36 minutes from Carapaz.