photo credits @ Etixx-QuickStep
Dan Martin (Etixx-Quick Step) captured stage 3 of the Volta a Catalunya today, with a well-timed attack on the climb of the La Molina, to hold-off his rivals and seize the stage honors.
Martin launched an attack, quickly overtaking Nairo Quintana (Movistar), who perviously attacked during the closing 200 meters to claim a solo victory, just 2 seconds ahead of Alberto Contador, who was followed by Romain Bardet.
Race Highlights
Today’s stage didn’t become animated until the final climb of the La Molina, when Peter Weening (Roompot-Oranje Peloton) launched a lone attack – subsequently opening up a slight gap for himself.
However, Louis Vervaeke (Lotto-Soudal) would later catch and pass the Dutch rider with 8 kilometer to go.
But, just as Weening was caught, so too was Vervaeke, as a determined peloton under the auspices of Team Sky reclaimed the Belgian 4 kilometer later.
From there, a flurry of attacks got underway by a number of top climbers, most notably by Contador, who had a short dig, followed by Quintana and Richie Porte.
Quintana would then commence a final attack during the closing few hundred meters, but Martin succeeded in surging past the Colombian rider on the steepest part of the climb, while also holding-off late challenges from Contador and Bardet.
As a result of today’s stage win, Martin moved up into the overall lead, with a 6 second advantage over Contador, followed Bardet at 2 seconds further behind.
Stage 3 Results IRL 1 MARTIN, Daniel (ETIXX – QUICK STEP) 5:00:27 ESP 2 CONTADOR VELASCO, Alberto (TINKOFF) + 2 FRA 3 BARDET, Romain (AG2R LA MONDIALE) USA 4 VAN GARDEREN, Tejay (BMC RACING) AUS 5 PORTE, Richie (BMC RACING) + 9 ITA 6 FORMOLO, Davide (CANNONDALE) + 11 RUS 7 ZAKARIN, Ilnur (KATUSHA) + 12 GBR 8 FROOME, Christopher (SKY) GBR 9 CARTHY, Hugh (CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA) + 18 COL 10 URAN URAN, Rigoberto (CANNONDALE)
General Classification after Stage 3 IRL 1 MARTIN, Daniel (ETIXX – QUICK STEP) 14:08:18 ESP 2 CONTADOR VELASCO, Alberto (TINKOFF) + 6 FRA 3 BARDET, Romain (AG2R LA MONDIALE) + 8 USA 4 VAN GARDEREN, Tejay (BMC RACING) + 12 AUS 5 PORTE, Richie (BMC RACING) + 19 ITA 6 FORMOLO, Davide (CANNONDALE) + 21 GBR 7 FROOME, Christopher (SKY) + 22 RUS 8 ZAKARIN, Ilnur (KATUSHA) GBR 9 THOMAS, Geraint (SKY) + 28 COL 10 URAN URAN, Rigoberto (CANNONDALE)
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