Reigning under-23 World Champion Axel Laurance secured his first victory at WorldTour level in the Volta a Catalunya on Friday, but as the Frenchman admitted afterwards, he did not know for certain he had taken the victory until his teammates began to congratulate him.
Stage 5 of the Volta a Catalunya was a fast and furious affair, run off at nearly 50 kph in the first hour and with no attacks going clear for good until the rugged 167.3-kilometre stage was nearing its halfway point.
