Cycling: Tour of Catalonia: Schachmann celebrates first professional victory

On the penultimate leg of the 98. Catalonia tour in Torrefarrera celebrated his first professional victory.

The 24-year-old from Team Quick-Step Floors beat the Spaniard Diego Rubio (Burgos-BH) in the sprint on the 78 km shorter section due to snowfall in the Pyrenees.

The duo broke away from the field shortly after the start in Pobla de Segur and saved an 18-second lead to the finish line.

Last year’s winner Alejandro Valverde (Spain/Movistar) defended his 16-second lead over Colombian Egan Arley Bernal (Sky) as leader of the overall standings before the final leg on Sunday after Barcelona. Valverde is on the brink of its third triumph in the traditional round trip after 2009 and 2017.