Ineos puts down Tour marker in Catalunya

British team claims full podium with victory for new signing Adam Yates, reports Chris Marshall-Bell in Barcelona

- Chris Marshall-Bell

Propelled by most of their expected Tour de France team, Ineos Grenadiers fired a warning shot to the rest of the peloton of their strength in depth and ability to dominate a stage race as Adam Yates headed an all-Ineos podium at Volta a Catalunya.

The Briton, in just his second race for the team after finishing runner-up at the UAE Tour, won the Catalan race by 45 seconds from team-mate Richie Porte with Geraint Thomas in third. It was the first time since 1960 that a team had occupied each spot on the race’s podium.

Yates’s win was secured thanks to making gains in the 18.6km individual time trial – won by his colleague Rohan Dennis – and then winning atop Vallter 2000, the race’s first summit finish. “I just stay in the wheels and wait for the finish. It’s pretty simple and gets the job done,” he said.

The 28-year-old added: “It’s a perfect week… I don’t think any of us expected to be 1-2-3 on the podium.”