Third day in Adorra, third mountain stage. Today, the second summit finish: the 'Andorre Arcalis' climb is 11km long and features average slopes of 7%. Not the steepest climb here, but surely another chance for the GC contenders to attack each other. Afterall, it's the longest stage in the tour with 223km in total.
GC-leader Valls and Penasa appear to be a class of their own so far, each claiming a stage in the first two days. Anacona/Krasnoperov a strong duo for Reddit and Briceno moved up high in the GC thanks to a breakaway yesterday. Eastman didn't look good after his crash. Will he bounce back today or suffer further?
A first breakaway has been shut down quickly: Lampier, Santambrogio, Grand, O'Connor, Koch, Jallays, Joeaar, McCutcheon
The next attempt with 8 riders going clear is allowed to go for the break of the day then:
Pirazzi as the best climber and obviously the goal to attack the KoM-lead today (Manfred, 56pts). He's clearly focussed right from the beginning, taking the first Cat4 climb for 5pts easily.
Belkov (GC's 27th, + 9.42) would then attack from the peloton with 149km to go. The Russian quickly bridged across the 3'30" gap on the early break, joining the group with still 142km remaining.
While Pirazzi would also take the second (Cat3) climb for 6pts, also Kebede (GC's 22nd, + 8.32) would try to bridge across the breakaway with 111km to go. Opposing to Belkov, the couldn't stay clear from the pack though: the breakaway's advantage has been cut down to 1'50" with 94km to go in the stage.
The most challenging climb until the summit finish would then make the leading group go into pieces:
Pirazzi and Belkov going clear with 89km remaining and Pirazzi also taking the third mountain sprint of the day. Wahyudi and McCutcheon not far behind, but they will eventually be distanced by the new leading duo.
Pirazzi still going strong and taking the fourth (Cat3) climb - for the provisional lead in the mountain classification:
22km to go now and the riders are already on uphill roads until they officialy enter the final 11km climb later on. The leading duo has grew their gap back to 3'25" on the pack, with McCutcheon/Wahyudi yet still fighting to hang on.
try to go clear! They surely have to race aggressive to stay in contention for a Top-10 in the GC..
Empty-handed attempt though, as the duo is brought back by the peloton (127 riders) with still 18km remaining:
full credit has to go to Nakane, who pulled the latest attackers back on his own. He's now leading the peloton towards the final climb, supported by Serrano. The leading group is now 2'20" ahead.
And now we're on the finish climb up 'Andorre Arcalis', hitting slopes up to 8% with now 7.5km to go for the peloton (108 riders). The next attacks go:
It's the end for Wahyudi's breakaway attempt, while McCutcheon is still between those attackers and the leading duo, that is two minutes ahead!
Bennett and Cataldo with an impressive ride though and they storm into the leading positions with now 4.5km to go!
Campero can't follow and Karnulin has already been pulled back by the peloton! Pirazzi was the last escapee being passed, with Belkov now struggling to follow him. The gap between Bennett/Cataldo and the peloton is at a minute now!
3.5km to go for Bennett/Cataldo, who are now 47" ahead of the peloton, where 14 riders seem to go clear now!
Campero still 34" ahead of this group, where Valls is setting the pace:
Valls Penasa Karnulin Solis Anacona Panayotov Eastman Pozzovivo, Shaw, Rowsell Belkov Pirazzi Bardet De Marchi
Eastman however not looking good again, as he's already sitting in the last position of the group - struggling to follow!
Antón, Salinas Battaglin
a few seconds behind, yet fighting to stay in contention..
Even worse, some GC conteders in the group behind, that is quickly losing ground - already 39" off group Valls now:
Krasnoperov and Manfredi Briceno Diaz Rujano Atapuma Hacecký Moschella
Quite a bummer for particularly Krasnoperov, who looked so good so far. Also Manfredi in danger to lose his white jersey, but of course Eastman seems to struggle as well! Briceno paying for his efforts yesterday? He's already totally exhausted.
2.5km remaing for group Bennett/Cataldo, that is re-joined by Campero now!
Group Valls is 39" behind and the GC-leader himself is going for another acceleration, reducing the group to just 8 riders:
Valls Penasa Bardet Karnulin Panayotov Anacona Pozzovivo and Shaw
Solis now 22" behind, as the last one being dropped from Valls' pace
Eastman further 16" in arrears! He's not at his best, obviously, yet struggling to follow the pace from Pirazzi and De Marchi. Rowsell and Belkov trying to hang on with Eastman at least.
The situation with 2km remaing for the leading trio:
The trio is entering the final kilometre with Cataldo and Bennett head-to-head, Campero closely behind.
Valls pace though has made his group connect to the leading trio! An awesome last couple of kilometres from the GC-leader, who has Bardet and an again strong Penasa right at his wheel.
Valls/Bardet now with a small gap on Penasa though. Karnulin and Anacona next. Pozzovivo and Panayotov at the end of the group.
Just 300metres to go and it looks like a fight between Cataldo and Bennett for the stage-win! Cataldo with a small advantage.
Campero can't follow their pace and Valls/Bardet might just fight for the last podium spot. Penasa not far behind, while Pozzovivo and particularly Panayotov are in danger to at least lose a few seconds on those riders ahead..
Cataldo takes the third stage of the tour! A strong sprint made for a comfortable win eventually. Well done!
+ 5" for Bennett as 2nd then. A great result for both, their attack obviously paid off.
+ 15" for Valls as 3rd on the stage, crucial bonifications gained
Bardet, Penasa, Anacona, Campero and Karnulin on the further positions, all finishing with the same time as Valls. Campero cracked on the final few hundred metres, but did well to bounce back from some disappointing two days so far. Valls again one of the strongest, defending yellow for another day. But also Penasa keeps performing well.
+ 32" for Pozzovivo as a strong 9th
+ 36" for Panayotov to complete the Top-10 on the stage
+ 57" for Solis, who finishes clearly ahead of the next group
The next riders come in with at least 1'37" lost on Cataldo:
a strong finishing Antón, Rujano and De Marchi with Eastman right behind him as 15th (+ 1.44) on the stage. Another blow for his GC-ambitiouns..
U25 leader Manfredi though struggled heavily and finishes as 27th (+ 3.13) eventually. Good news for Eastman at least.
A terrible day for Krasnoperov (GC's 5th) as 45th at the finish (+ 3.53) and also Briceno (GC's 3rd) finishes with the same time a few spots ahead. The latter definitely paying for his efforts yesterday. Krasnoperov though had two great days so far and we didn't see that coming. His lack of stamina surely had a huge impact on his performance today.
A great day for Campari and Cataldo! A stage-win to follow on Valls and Penasa. He will surely improve in the GC as well.
Valls retains the yellow leader shirt for yet another day though, now leading by 52 seconds on Penasa. Anacona moving up to 3rd with + 3.51 on Valls, Briceno dropping from 3rd to 12th.
Solis still a strong 4th ahead of Bardet, Karnulin and Cataldo: they are all between 5'29" and 5'55" behind Valls. Bennett moving up to 8th ahead of Panayotov and Campero. Pozzovivo 11th. Krasnoperov drops to 15th, Manfredi to 16th, still a few seconds ahead of Eastman as 17th.
