Under-23 World Champion Axel Laurance makes breakthrough with win at Volta a Catalunya

Axel Laurance celebrates his stage win at the Volta a Catalunya
Axel Laurance celebrates his stage win at the Volta a Catalunya (Image credit: Getty Images)

Reigning under-23 World Champion Axel Laurance secured his first victory at WorldTour level in the Volta a Catalunya on Friday, but as the Frenchman admitted afterwards, he did not know for certain he had taken the victory until his teammates began to congratulate him.

Stage 5 of the Volta a Catalunya was a fast and furious affair, run off at nearly 50 kph in the first hour and with no attacks going clear for good until the rugged 167.3-kilometre stage was nearing its halfway point.

Alasdair Fotheringham

Alasdair Fotheringham has been reporting on cycling since 1991. He has covered every Tour de France since 1992 bar one, as well as numerous other bike races of all shapes and sizes, ranging from the Olympic Games in 2008 to the now sadly defunct Subida a Urkiola hill climb in Spain. As well as working for Cyclingnews, he has also written for The IndependentThe GuardianProCycling, The Express and Reuters.