Carlos Julian Quintero had told it, just after wearing the final green jersey at Tirreno-Adriatico: “This jersey is a reward for all the work done, and more importantly, gives me a huge deal of confidence: now I am ready to take a step forward.” The Colombia-Coldeportes’ 29-year-old rider is keeping his word at the Settimana Coppi e Bartali, when he sits in the 4th overall position after stage 2, 1.15 behind new leader Ben Swift (Team Sky), first to the line in today’s 156 km effort from Cesenatico to Sogliano al Rubicone (156 km).

In the first Settimana Coppi e Bartali’s mountain stage, featuring five climbs to Ville di Monte Tiffi hill, Quintero placed fifth, 57 seconds behind Swift, who had managed to move away from a selected group in the penultimate lap, along with Matija Kvasina (Felbermayr) and Francesco Bongiorno (Bardiani). Under the last kilometer banner, the Brit kicked again on his own, finishing 16” ahead of Kvasina and 21” ahead of Bongiorno, while Valerio Agnoli (Italia) came back in the final metres to take fourth over Quintero, who had broken away of an eight-man chasing group. Previously, Piechele (Bardiani), Belletti (Southeast), Berlato (Nippo-Fantini), Van Hecke (Topsport-Vlaanderen), Stimulak (Adria Mobil), Gaffurini (MgKvis-Vega) and Ballerini (Unieuro-Wilier) had formed the early day’s breakaway.

“From the beginning, it was our choice not to be in the breakaway and give our 100% to back up Carlos," told Sports Director Valerio Tebaldi, "and we managed to do that. The whole team did its very best, starting with Miguel Angel Rubiano and Edwin Avila, who kept Carlos sheltered and in the top positions of the bunch for the whole day, and it was crucial with some very tight junctures in today’s route. When the Swift’s trio attacked at the fore, Carlos had almost bridged on them, and then he tried again solo with 3 km to go: he is feeling very god, and I think he will have a chance to reach the final podium at the end of the last stage.”

Waiting for Sunday’s mountain showdown, tomorrow the 3rd stage (Calderara di Reno-Crevalcore, 173,8 km) will see the sprinters back in the mix: along with Avila, Team Colombia-Coldeportes will also rely on Sebastian Molano, who gritted his teeth to get to the finish in spite of a flu. Fabio Duarte also had to face the same issue, and got off his bike at the halfway stage of a cold and rainy day.

Meanwhile, the Volta a Catalunya reached its 5th stage (Alp-Valls, 192 km), with another success by Alejandro Valverde: the Movistar rider took advantage of the last descent of the day to open a gap over a 10-man GC riders’ group, winning with a 5-second margin over Rigoberto Uran (Etixx-Quickstep) and Paolo Tiralongo (Astana). Fourth place for AustralianRichie Porte (Team Sky), who secured the overall leader’s jersey with two stages to go.

The best for Team Colombia-Coldeportes was once again Alex Cano, 32nd at 2.44: the Colombian rider stayed in the first chase group until deep in the stage, losing touch only on the final descent.

Tomorrow, Saturday, the sixth and penultimate stage will take place between Cervera and Port Aventura (194,1 km).