Stage 3 is a test for the GC candidates before tomorrow’s crucial time trial, and this morning everyone is asking whether Phinney
can take over yellow before tomorrow. If he can, he’ll most likely head to the mountains with a solid overall lead.
The American has a strong sprint as proved yesterday, which could come handy also today. The bookmakers favours Gesink Spilak Valverde
for the stage win.
We’re ready to roll. The riders will climb 2889 height meters today according to the profile.
Deignan
immediately attacks, and with most other aggressive riders not at the very front of the peloton. He quickly pulls out a gap of two minutes back to the peloton on the third category climb the stage is starting with.
Deignan
is rewarded going first over the first mountain sprint today with 126 kilometers left of the stage. Though Agnoli Heider Tschopp
have bridged the gap, giving us a breakaway of four riders 3’30 ahead of the peloton.
All four riders in the breakaway are terrible sprinters, and that shows when they’re sprinting for the first intermediate sprint! It’s Heider
edging it, winning it over Agnoli Tschopp
with a top speed of 39 kilometers per hour. Though, their lead back to the peloton is widening, now being 4’30 105 kilometers away from home.
88 kilometers to go and Milka-AVG clearly believes Coppel
can defend his lead, as they’re together with Project 1t4i
keeping the breakaway’s lead at less than three minutes!
Heider
is convincing in the sprint at the second intermediate sprint compared to the first. A nice speed of 52 kilometers per hour secures him another six bonus seconds.
Bouet
is doing sensational work back in the peloton. He has led led the bunch for the final 36 kilometers as the peloton has 66 kilometers left and is only chasing 1’40 behind the breakaway.
Action!
58 kilometers away from home Roux Moinard Caruso
attack away from the chasing Bouet
This is a good sign for what’s to come on the climb, as the riders haven’t even started the fourth category climb!
Panayotov König
also join them five kilometers later. Interesting tactic by Milka-AVG, now sending their GC captain up the road, meaning they are not forced to chase back in the peloton anymore.
Up front in the breakaway Deignan Heider
goes over the fourth categorized climb first, and they continue their attack sensing that the attackers from the peloton were really close. They have 50 kilometers left.
Four more riders have attacked and gained a great gap back to the peloton. They’re De la Fuente Paterski Ghisalberti Tamouridis
They’re 2’40 ahead of the peloton, but chasing 30 seconds behind the leaders. Has the peloton taken a siesta today?
The move only gets more dangerous as all 13 riders ahead of the peloton are together 44 kilometers away from home. They’re leading the peloton by three minutes! The riders in here are: Caruso Roux Panayotov Moinard Heider Agnoli Tschopp König Deignan Paterski Ghisalberti De la Fuente Tamouridis
It’s a strong group of riders who immediately start to co-operate.
The peloton starts climbing the third category climb with 36.5 kilometers to go. It’s Pendleton’s Koenigsegg
working at the front for their captain’s Martin Valverde
It just underlines how serious the lead group is, when you see Pendleton’s, who has a rider up front, contributing to the chase.
It’s a big fight for the mountain points in the breakaway, and the leader of the competition Caruso
isn’t able to get any points! It’s De la Fuente
taking maximum six points, and he also has a gap going over the top. Following closest are Moinard Paterski Ghisalberti Panayotov
while all others from that 13 riders big group are dropped.
24 kilometers to go, and we have a completely new situation on the road! Up front is De la Fuente Moinard
leading the peloton by a massive three minutes, which could very well be enough for the stage win! Between the duo and the peloton is Caruso Roux
but they’re one minute behind the leading duo and two minutes ahead of the peloton.
Martin
launches a big attack 23.8 kilometers from the line, on the plateau after the climb. No one immediately follows!
He quickly pulls out a gap of 40 seconds, and Valverde Sicard Contador
see no other option than attacking themselves! It just seems like there is no serious will to chase back in the peloton.
Alarcon Van Den Broeck
also go with this move, and they’re quickly half a minute in front of the peloton!
The defending champion Spilak
senses the danger, and launches a downhill attack which drags himself Lloret Valls
up to the group of Contador
Though, Martin
is still half a minute ahead!
De la Fuente
makes his bid for the stage win 14 kilometers from the finishing line as he leaves Moinard
behind!
Only 35 seconds behind with 12 kilometers to go follow Van Den Broeck Spilak Valverde Sicard Lloret Martin Caruso Contador Alarcon Valls
The pressure really is on now, as they’re trying to catch the peloton off guard on the descent, trying to extend their lead.
20 seconds behind the chase group, and 55 seconds behind De la Fuente
follows another four riders who have attacked away from the peloton. They’re Gesink Keinath Roux (from the breakaway) Eastman
Then comes the peloton, desperately led by Phinney
Only 28 riders are left here, and notice how well placed Coppel
is placed! He isn’t giving away his yellow jersey easy!
10 kilometers to go and Moinard
is caught by the chase group, who are trying all they can to hold off the peloton and to catch De la Fuente
They’re 30 seconds behind the Spaniard in front, 20 seconds ahead of Gesink’s
group, and another 20 seconds ahead of Phinney Coppel
in the bunch.
But when the chase group caught Moinard
they simply stopped racing! It’s a wasted opportunity for them, and Eastman Gesink Keinath
join them with ease.
You must really question their tactic, will they continue to not pull on this descent, allowing also the peloton to catch them? This is definitely a great gift to De la Fuente
who suddenly finds himself 46 seconds ahead of the chase group with only 5 kilometers left!
Here he is! De la Fuente
extends his lead even more, now being 55 seconds ahead of the group behind as he takes on the final three kilometers! This is surely the stage winner, but can he also get the yellow jersey?
1600 meters left for the chase group, and they finally start riding again as the sprint starts. Valverde
is at the front followed by Martin Van Den Broeck Alarcon Valls Contador Keinath Gesink
This stage belongs to De la Fuente
who pulls off a magnificent win and takes the yellow jersey in the process! An absolutely amazing riding, taking advantage of the hesitation in the chase group on the final kilometers. Chapeau!
The chase group sprinted fast, and comes home about half a minute behind the stage winner. It’s Sicard Valls
securing a couple of bonus seconds, ahead of Spilak Martin Van Den Broeck Gesink Lloret Valverde
They actually opened up a gap of 15 seconds to the others in the chase group in the sprint, but will the gap be counted? Eastman Caruso Alarcon Keinath Moinard
follow with Contador
several meters behind.
Those meters Contador
had to let go could be what Phinney
and the rest of the peloton need, as the American has delivered a superb sprint, almost catching Contador. Though, there’s still a gap, but will any of these gaps be counted for by the time keepers?
No, it’s a lucky/well calculated escape for Phinney
and all the others in the bunch, as they’re all given the time of being 28 seconds behind De la Fuente
That must hurt for the favourites being in the chase group, as they clearly had a solid gap back to Phinney
and the others.
Stage results
1
David De la Fuente
Lotto - Cervelo
3h28'15
2
Romain Sicard
Pearl Adidas
+ 28
3
Rafael Valls
Santander
s.t.
4
Simon Spilak
Aker - MOT
s.t.
5
Daniel Martin
Pendleton's
s.t.
6
Jurgen Van den Broeck
Team Puma - SAP
s.t.
7
Robert Gesink
Project 1t4i
s.t.
8
Alejandro Valverde
Koenigsegg
s.t.
9
Manuel Lloret
Lotto - Cervelo
s.t.
10
Damiano Caruso
Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
11
Ryan Eastman
Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms
s.t.
12
Jose Alarcon
Team Bintang
s.t.
13
Nico Keinath
Team B&O
s.t.
14
Amaël Moinard
Simply Red Bull
s.t.
15
Alberto Contador
Festina-Canal+
s.t.
16
Taylor Phinney
Wikipedia
s.t.
17
Gianluca Brambilla
Pro Team Venchi - Sugoi
s.t.
18
Frantisek Rabon
Milka - AVG
s.t.
19
Thibaut Pinot
Wikipedia
s.t.
20
Arnold Jeannesson
Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms
