BAHRAIN MERIDA ends San Juan Tour on high note

Manama, Jan. 30 (BNA): BAHRAIN MERIDA Cycling Team signed off their San Juan Tour on a high note, maintaining their leadership in the team classification by the end of the event’s 6th Stage. Argentinian Max Richeze of Quick-Step-Floors triumphed in the last stage of the Tour after jumping away from a larger escape group halfway through the stage, getting clear with Oliveiro Troia of Abu Dhabi Team and Nicolas Tivani of Unieuro Trevigiani; the eventual second and third place winners. Bahrain MERIDA sprinters Ramunas Navardauskas and Vincenzo Nibali completed the stage in eighth and 40th respectively. Meanwhile, Trek-Segafredo’s finished safely in the peloton to win the 35th edition of this Tour, while Ramunas and Nibali came seventh and eighth respectively in the overall classification. "I really enjoyed it and was quite fine and as soon as I could, I attacked. Too bad they have taken us when little was missing to the finish, but I’m happy all the same with my race," smiled Vincenzo Nibali. "We wanted to put a sign on the race – he added – and perhaps grabbed to gain positions in the overall standings". The "Shark" has been on the run with two local San Juan riders for nearly 80 km. The breakaway was resumed only 3 km from the finish when Vincenzo remained alone at the front. "Vincenzo’s attack was truly remarkable and the proof is the great effort that the group has done to take it back," commented sport director Paolo Slongo. "Even today, 7th in the mass sprint and despite what was a flat circuit we started to win. First tried Siutsou, then me and then Vincenzo. We grew step by step and this means that here in Argentina we worked well," explained Ramunas Navardauskas. And the good team performance, is confirmed by the victory in the Team classification.