News: Gaviria wins stage 1 Vuelta a San Juan

Fernando Gaviria opened his UAE Team Emirates chapter in the best way possible by winning the opening stage of the 2019 Vuelta a San Juan.

News: Gaviria wins stage 1 Vuelta a San Juan

Fernando Gaviria opened his UAE Team Emirates chapter in the best way possible by winning the opening stage of the 2019 Vuelta a San Juan.

After 159,1km from San Juan to Pocito, he sprinted (photo Bettini) ahead of Matteo Malucelli (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) and Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe). The three hold the same top spots in the overall classification of the Argentine stage race, with Gaviria now in the leader’s jersey.

“I’m super happy when I win,” Gaviria (35 victories as pro) explained. “Above all because I have changed teams and I was looking for a confirmation. The UAE Team Emirates is improving year after year and becoming the strongest in the world and I’m happy to be apart of this project. In my old team, I learned so much and now I’m bringing all of that knowledge with me in my new chapter. I want to thank my team because they worked so well even if we are young, we have so much talent.We prepared very well in the winter and in the last days here in San Juan before the race. In the sprint, I was very relaxed because knew that I could win.”

Tomorrow the riders will race the second stage between Chimbas and Peri Lago Punta Negra. The stage covers 160.2km, with five climbs over the top of the Punta Negra (3rd category). The finish line is 2.5km after the top of the last climb and should make for a tough day for Gaviria and the other sprinters.

Sam Bennett: “The guys put in a very strong effort all day to control the race and make sure I was well-placed for the sprint finish. We reached the final stretch in the front but it was very difficult for me to stay on Peter’s wheel as many sprinters thought he was going to contest the stage win. It was hard to get a clear line but I was able to cross 3rd in a very tight sprint.”

Stage 1
1. Fernando Gaviria
2. Matteo Malucelli
3. Sam Bennett

8. Mark Cavendish
9. Peter Sagan