LottoNL-Jumbo claim first win of season through Groenewegen's Valenciana sprint

Dylan Groenewegen gets LottoNL-Jumbo's first win of the season, beating Nacer Bouhanni to the line on stage three of the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana

(Image credit: Watson)

Last season we had to wait until May to see a rider in the yellow and black of LottoNL-Jumbo win a race, but sprinter Dylan Groenewegen ensured the wait was not so long with a victory on stage three of the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana.

The 22-year-old Dutch fast man, in his first season with LottoNL-Jumbo, overcame his lack of teammates in the finishing straight by latching on to Cofidis rider Nacer Bouhanni's wheel and pipping him to the line.

As the peloton swept through the narrow streets and tight turns of the finishing town Alzira, numbers in the front group were reduced and the peloton stretched out.

Etixx-Quick Step had a strong presence at the front of the pack through Niki Terpstra and Bob Jungels in their almost identical Dutch and Luxembourg national champion's jerseys.

But it was Cofidis who had the numbers heading into the 180-degree turn that led to the finish line, with three men, including Bouhanni, at the front.

The Frenchman's leadout was almost perfect, but Groenewegen overpowered him on the line to win by a matter of centimetres.

Team Sky's Wout Poels remains in the race lead after finishing safely in the peloton, taking a 15-second lead into the race's final two stages.

Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana stage three, Sagunto-Alzira (173.5km)

1. Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo 4-04-12

2. Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) Cofidis, st

3. Alexander Porsev (Rus) Katusha, st

4. Tom Boonen (Bel) Etixx-Quick Step, st

5. Raymond Kreder (Ned) Roompot Oranje Peloton, st

6. Jonas Van Genechten (Bel) IAM Cycling, st

7. Pablo Torres (Esp) Burgos-NH, st

8. Nicola Ruffoni (Ita) Bardiani-CSF, st

9. Filippo Fortin (Ita) GM Europa Ovini, st

10. Giorgio Bocchiola (Ita) d'Amico-Bottecchia, st

Overall standings after stage three

Overall standings after stage two

1. Wout Poels (Ned) Team Sky, 4-32-42

2. Luis Leon Sanchez (Esp) Astana, at 15s

3. Diego Rosa (Ita) Astana, at 22s

4. Jesus Herrada (Esp) Movistar, at 26s

5. Bob Jungels (Lux) Etixx-Quick Step, at 27s

6. Javier Moreno (Esp) Movistar, at 32s

7. Beñat Intxausti (Esp) Team Sky, at 33s

8. Ion Izagirre (Esp) Movistar, at 38s

9. Leopold Koenig (Cze) Team Sky, at 39s

10. Stef Clement (Ned) IAM Cycling, at 45s

Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.