Third day in Spain and we have another criterium in the city of Barcelona.
Again it`s pretty flat and we expect another sprint finish, where Aberasturi (Espana) needs to be named after his win in the first crit.
Drujon (France) and Santos (Benfica) were the next back then and will try to improve.
4 riders in the breakaway.
De la Cruz (Barcelona)
Toribio (Iberia)
Mourey (France)
Le Gac (Pearl Adidas)
Mourey might be the most interesting here. The French was 5th on yesterdays hard stage after being in the breakaway and so he is just giving it another try.
As expected the early work is done by the Spanish National Team. The other sprinters know about Aberasturi`s good form at the moment and will have him on their paper today.
The four riders in front are working very well together and so they extend their lead to 4min with 30km to go!
This is actually looking very good for them if the peloton is not waking up soon.
But it doesn`t look like this.
Aberasturi ordered his team to slow down as other teams are also supposed to do some work. But as no other team was willing to, the peloton is just giving this away today...
Mangel (Alstom) realizes this new situation as first and attacks. He won`t reach the group as the gap is at more than 7min with 5km to go!
But being 5th would give him some points as well.
The gap is melting. But more due to the tactical games in the sprint preperations now. With such a gap nothing to worry about.
De la Cruz-Mourey-Toribio-Le Gac is the order here.
With 1,3km to go Le Gac is starting the sprint from the last position. The others look surprised as no one is following immediately.
Also De la Cruz and Mourey start the sprint, but eventually too late, while Toribio totally failed with his timing.
Big win from Le Gac. He was the smartest in the end by going early to surprise his companions.
(Ignore the other rider as he was lapped)
In a close fight for the 2nd De la Cruz beats Mourey. This is a strong effort as he surely had the worst position. So finishing 2nd is not bad.
Toribio as 4th will at least collect some points, which might be good for the next two stages, which suit him more.
Much later the peloton comes to the sprint. Mangel was caught, so his attempt didn`t work today.
The preperations didn`t really work out and so we have a very chaotic sprint.
Aberasturi and Drujon are already in the first two positions with yesterdays winner Possoni surprisingly being in 3rd position.
But it is Saulo Lay winning the sprint of the peloton ahead of the Alstom duo Pineau and Soupe.
Reynes, Brambilla and Cano to take the last points while most of the big sprinters like Aberasturi (12.), Drujon (25.) or Santos (16.) couldn`t fulfill the expectations.
Mourey with two successful breakaways takes the shared lead together with Saulo Lay, who was the most consistent sprinter so far.
Olivier Le Gac
David De la Cruz
Giorgio Brambilla
Bruno Santos
