“We all know Roglic is an incredible rider" - Laurens de Plus in awe of Volta a Catalunya winner
Cycling
Laurens De Plus came close to a stage win on the final day of the Volta a Catalunya, capping a strong overall performance from INEOS Grenadiers. The Belgian launched a bold solo attack on the final climb and held off the chasers to take second place on the stage, just behind Primoz Roglic, who sealed both the stage victory and overall general classification title.
De Plus crossed the line ahead of Lennert Van Eetvelt, who finished third on the day, while Egan Bernal’s consistent riding throughout the week was rewarded with a seventh-place finish overall. Axel Laurance also impressed with a top-10 result in the final sprint, taking ninth place to underline the team’s depth across the week.
Reflecting on the effort, De Plus admitted the intensity of the short final stage had taken him by surprise.
“It was super, super hard. It’s pretty special to have a two-hour stage – we’re used to having longer stages – but I was in a good position on the last climb and I felt like ‘why not?’ I just squeezed and suddenly I was off the front. I ended up seeing Roglic almost, so I was surprised by that.”
Despite falling just short of the win, De Plus was full of praise for Roglic and proud of his own effort.
“We all know Roglic is an incredible rider so I’m not surprised. Congrats to him. You always hope [for the stage win] but I was on my limit and Van Eetvelt did most of the work, so I was already happy to go for second place. I’m super happy with that, so I can end this week with a good feeling.”
Just in
Play for FREE! Fantasy Tour of Flanders
Subscribe to our Daily Newsletter today!
Popular news
Latest comments
- I don't think so, maybe in a different GT, not in the Tour. Last year, to be 3rd, he would have to be better than Remco. And he wasn't, on any terrainvappaxbipmv03-04-2025
- Or sprinting, or against wind. I think by now they’ve optimised the tire tech and pressures to largely smooth out rider weight effects. BUT, I’m going to go through past podiums to see what weight distribution trends are to be spotted coz I’m curious now.Mistermaumau03-04-2025
- I also wasn’t too impressed by the final lead out, they’ve got to practice that, Wout had far too long to ride alone but then again it seemed as if the lead-outs had themselves run out of steam too early which is what makes me believe none of them could have won, Powfull looked totally fresh and in the end it was just a case of him being stronger than the others, not much you can do against that, just like you can’t outdo MVDP in the end when he’s in shape.Mistermaumau03-04-2025
- Exactly, a rider (or sprinter in athletics) can’t even tell themselves when it will happen until it does. Obviously if you have an idea that could happen, you should maybe envisage testing your theory with perhaps an small sharp attack well before race-end.Mistermaumau03-04-2025
- Yes but 20 minutes as a domestique isn’t 20 minutes as a leader, and you know as well as anybody that Pog winning is in no way a guarantee. Granted, neither Pog nor Remco nor Jinas nor Primoz or some more winning starts to seem far-fetched but a podium would certainly be targetable if he doesn’t have to worry about Jonas.Mistermaumau03-04-2025
- The final appeal he lost against his old team for « breaking » his contract.Mistermaumau03-04-2025
- How exactly is that a good thing on cobbles or flat? Lower weight is only beneficial on a climbvappaxbipmv03-04-2025
- I said much better, not better. He probably will improve but right now he needs about 20 minutes of free time to win the Tour against Pogacar. And the was offered leadership in Giro and other races but turned it downvappaxbipmv03-04-2025
- If niermann this he can predict cramps, that would be helpful for a lot of people around the world. It was the standard strategy for Benoot and Jorgensen to attack and they should haveabstractengineer03-04-2025
- Wow! People have to understand that being light is absolutely a good thing on cobbles, as bouncing means you have to lift yourself over and over again. Being a lighter cyclist is always a good thing (ceteris paribus), unless you're going downhill.acem8203-04-2025