Refresh
Not surprisingly, it has been a most fast begin to proceedings, with the pace properly in extra of 50kph via these opening kilometres, however a break has but to determine itself.
-158km
The peloton has hit kilometre zero and stage 3 of the Vuelta is formally underway.
The peloton is presently navigating the neutralised zone forward of the official begin. There aren’t any non-starters to report, with 174 riders nonetheless within the race. Laurens De Plus (Ineos) crashed out within the opening workforce time trial, whereas Oscar Onley (DSM) deserted after a fall yesterday.
Right this moment’s stage is one in every of two elements. The comparatively flat opening after the beginning in Suria permits an early break to steal a march on the peloton. The 2 class 1 ascents within the finale will see the GC males spring into motion. First up is the Coll d’Ordino (17.3km at 7.7%), whose summit comes 21km from the end. It is adopted in fast succession by the haul to the end at Arinsal (8.3km at 7.7%).
After the farce of Saturday night’s workforce time trial in the dead of night, the choice was taken to cease the clock for GC 9km from the end of yesterday’s stage in Barcelona. “Right this moment the organisers did the appropriate factor, it was very slippy and this was a skating rink. If we’d gone all the best way to the end it will have been actually harmful,” Juan Ayuso mentioned afterwards. Alasdair Fotheringham has the complete story right here.
Alasdair Fotheringham is on the Vuelta for Cyclingnews and he has written this wonderful preview of at the moment’s stage, with perception on the climb of Arinsal from native resident Nathan Haas. “How arduous is it? Put it this manner, this is likely one of the climbs I’ll keep away from in coaching if I’m not having an excellent day,” Haas, ex-road professional and now a stalwart of the gravel scene for Colnago, instructed Cyclingnews. “We’re going to see a really selective race instantly on this stage. For a Grand Tour stage 3 to have a day like this takes away any probability of a random individual slipping into the lead later within the week. It’s completely a GC day.” Learn extra right here.
The peloton rolls out of Súria at 13.15 native time, with the race scheduled to hit kilometre zero at 13.27.
Basic classification after stage 2
1 Andrea Piccolo (Ita) EF Schooling-EasyPost 4:27:23
2 Javier Romo (Spa) Astana Qazaqstan 0:00:11
3 Ivan Garcia Cortina (Spa) Movistar 0:00:13
4 Romain Bardet (Fra) Workforce dsm-firmenich
5 Max Poole (GBr) Workforce dsm-firmenich
6 Nelson Oliveira (Por) Movistar
7 Imanol Erviti (Spa) Movistar
8 Enric Mas (Spa) Movistar
9 Einer Rubio (Col) Movistar
10 Sean Flynn (GBr) Workforce dsm-firmenich
After a fraught opening weekend in Barcelona, Andrea Piccolo (EF Schooling-EasyPost) leads the Vuelta a España, however the complexion of the race might alter significantly this afternoon, with two class 1 climbs on the agenda. The Coll d’Ordino is adopted by the summit end at Arinsal.
Welcome to dwell protection of stage 3 of the Vuelta a España,158.5km from Súria to Arinsal in Andorra for the primary summit end of the race.
