Volta a Catalunya

Henderson Wins in Catalunya

Columbia-Highroad fastman Greg Henderson took an emphatic sprint victory on the final stage of the Tour of Catalunya on Sunday, which finished on the Formula One Grand Prix motor circuit near Barcelona.

Fourth and third on the previous two days’ bunch sprints, Henderson powered to his third victory of the season after accelerating 250 metres from the finish line. As a top track rider and former World and Commonwealth Games points champion, Henderson said that the spectacular finish, the same one used in the Formula One motor races, suited him well.

“I didn’t know what the last kilometre was like but it turned out the finish was perfect for me, a downhill and then a flat sprint, just like I would do on the track” Henderson, who has lived in nearby Girona, Catalunya during the season for the last two years, said.  “I’ve been getting closer every day, the first sprint stage [five] I didn’t have a good day because I’d suffered a lot on the previous stage [in the mountains]. Yesterday [stage six] I had the power but hit the front way too early, and today I finally hit it perfectly, and was lucky enough to hold everybody off. Today I started out with about 250 metres to go, because I was so far back, about fifth or sixth wheel when the sprint started.”

“I did [the Four Days of] Dunkirk as my first race back from Paris-Roubaix in support of [Andre] Greipel and things went well there. Then after a good rest after Dunkirk I was very motivated for here, [living in Catalunya means] this is like a home race for me.”

Henderson’s win continues Columbia-Highroad’s exceptional run of success this season. The New Zealand rider’s victory is the 28th of 2009 for the men’s team. Henderson now heads to the United States before racing in the Philly Week in June.

“Getting wins like this one here is very motivating. I get given the chances here [in Spain where he’s won three times this year]. When you’re on a team with [Mark] Cavendish and [Andre] Greipel, you’re always racing in support, but when you get your chance it’s nice to make the most of it.”

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