A jubiliant Schachmann repeated his feat in the 2018 Volta a Catalunya, taking another stage win after a late attack from a four-man breakaway saw him just hold off the chasing peloton in to the finish line.
Schachmann had been a part of the early breakaway which formed over the top of the first categorised climb of the day alongside Bert-Jan Lindeman (Jumbo-Visma), Tejay van Garderen (EF Education First) and Andrey Amador (Movistar).
He dropped his breakaway companions with eleven kilometres remaining, with the peloton within a minute on the chase and surprised everyone by holding off the main bunch to take the stage win.
“I knew, I am in a really good shape," said Schachmann, "therefore I wanted to achieve another stage victory at the Volta a Catalunya. After a second and fourth place, I knew I had to try it again, because there are not so many stages left.
"As the group attacked I joined them and with 20 kilometres to go, I thought, that we’ll have a good chance to make it to the finish. On the descent I attacked and just pulled to give it everything. I am so happy with the outcome and that I collected the points to now lead the points classification.”
Australian Michael Matthews was consigned to second place by the German stage-winner, displaying his displeasure in animated fashion as he crossed the finish line after winning the reduced bunch sprint, some 13 seconds behind Schachmann.
“We were unsure as to how the day was going to pan out with the 20 kilometre uphill start and we originally planned to get Wilco (Kelderman) into the breakaway if it was a large group," said Matthews.
"With it only being four ahead we started to ride early but the riders up front were really strong. The guys did a good job to close it down and position me well in the finale but it wasn’t enough and in the end we had to settle for second.”
