Dylan Groenewegen has won the Clàssica Comunitat Valenciana. The Amsterdam native defeated Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) and Tim Torn Teutenberg (Lidl-Trek Future Racing) in a bunch sprint. It marks the seventieth professional victory for the fast man from Jayco-Alula.

This Spanish one-day race has been the opener of the European road cycling season for many years. And this year, part of the peloton started this 1.1 race for the first time this season. The riders didn't have to travel far, as almost all teams have held a training camp in the region of this race - the Calpe and Valencia area - in recent weeks.

From La Nucia, the peloton headed towards the back of Coll de Rates: the most popular climb in the region. Groenewegen initially struggled here but managed to catch up on the descent. In the meantime, a large breakaway group of sixteen riders formed, gaining a lead of more than two minutes over the peloton.

Large breakaway group reeled in: mass sprint imminent

In this leading group was a Dutchman: Jetse Bol (Burgos-BH). Bol was supported by the likes of Jasper De Buyst and Liam Slock (Lotto-Dstny), a duo from Team Movistar, and three French riders from Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale.

However, the lead group couldn't maintain their advantage all the way to the finish. As the race neared its climax, three riders broke away: Stefano Oldani (Cofidis), Liam Slock, and Valentin Retailleau (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale). Despite racing hard for nearly four hours, they were fully stretched as the peloton narrowed their lead to less than a minute. By the time they were ten kilometers from the finish, their lead was lost.

This set the stage for a mass sprint on the flat final loop, which the riders had circled multiple times. In this showdown, all eyes were on Dylan Groenewegen of Team Jayco AlUla, the favorite sprinter. His support team was overtaken in the final kilometer, but Groenewegen powered through to clinch the victory.

Results Clàssica Comunitat Valenciana 2024.

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