William Barta wins in the Port of Valencia and Brandon McNulty takes the yellow jersey of the 75th VCV
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Movistar’s American rider takes advantage of the fight for the yellow jersey to win stage 5 between Bétera and Valencia.
Valencia. 4 February 2024. The 75th VCV – Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana has concluded this Sunday in Valencia with a stage victory for the American William Barta and the victory in the general classification for the also American Brandon McNulty. The fifth and final stage of the 75th VCV was held between Bétera and Valencia, with a spectacular finish line located in front of the second shed of the Marina Real Juan Carlos I in Valencia, which was attended by hundreds of Valencian cycling fans. A sensational end to a week of cycling at the highest level that has been experienced on the roads of the Comunitat Valenciana.
The stage started with the usual signature control in Bétera. A town that had already hosted the start of the VCV Féminas Gran Premio Tuawa hours before and that lived a historic day of cycling from the early hours. The fight for the yellow jersey focused all the attention of the curious, so the most demanded by the public were Brandon McNulty, Aleksandr Vlasov, Pello Bilbao and Santiago Buitrago who met more than one compatriot who gave him encouragement for the battle ahead.
Before the start of the last stage of this 75th VCV, the ribbon cutting ceremony took place, with the presence of Mireia Miravet, from Banco Sabadell; Fernando Canós, Deputy Director and Eastern Regional Director of Banco Sabadell, María Benimelli, Sports Councillor of the Bétera Town Council; Juan Miguel Gómez, director of the Trinidad Alfonso Foundation; Dionisio García, CEO of Global Omnium; and Ángel Casero, general director of the VCV – Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana Gran Premi Banc Sabadell.
The race, with a route almost identical to last year’s, was clearly going to be controlled at all times by UAE Emirates Team. Brandon McNulty’s yellow jersey had to be defended and l’Oronet, but above all La Frontera, were the threats. They knew it well from the 2023 experience and wanted to prevent another Rui Costa from crashing the party. And how well Matxín’s team did it. Helped by the great form that McNulty has shown this week. Bora attacked, pushing Vlasov’s chances in La Frontera, but the UAE American defended like a cat on a cat’s back and always closed the gap that Vlasov could open.
Once the general classification had been decided, or almost, once past La Frontera, it remained to be seen if the group could reduce the gap to the escapees. It looked as if they would, but the mousy roads of L’Horta Nord, with a lot of sharp bends and little room to pick up speed, made it impossible. William Barta, one of the members of the breakaway, saw his chance and launched the attack. The American rider from Movistar Team used all his strength until the finish line located in front of the Port of Valencia and took the stage and the ovation of the public gathered there. With no surprises, the favourites came in behind, closing a final podium made up of Brandon McNulty, Santiago Buitrago and Aleksandr Vlasov, with Alessandro Tonelli, the leader for the first three days of the race, in fourth position. Jonathan Milan won the orange regularity jersey, Mikel Bizkarra the mountains jersey and Santiago Buitrago the best young rider, with Bahrain Victorious as the best team of the 75th VCV.