Movistar’s Pablo Lastras has won stage 3 of the Tour of Spain on the 100 mile stage from Petrer – Totana and in the process take the leader’s jersey
Part of a break of four that also included Markel Irizar Aranburu (RadioShack), Ruslan Podgornyy (Vacansoleil-DCM) and Sylvain Chavanel (Quickstep), the Spanish rider rode away from his breakaway companions on the final climb and managed to hold a gap to the finish where his winning margin was just over 15 seconds. With the peloton around two minutes back, the rider’s lead is a healthy one over the main GC contenders who have yet to really go full gas.
Bradley Wiggins and teammate Chris Froome held their own on the final climb, with Froome crossing the line in 12th, one place ahead of Wiggins.
Steven de Jongh, Team Sky Sports Director: “It was good to see Brad up there. That was the main job today and yesterday and now we are looking forward to tomorrow which will be a day for the GC. All the boys are looking towards that stage and there is a really good atmosphere within the team.
“The team did a terrific job did all day. Thomas [Lofkvist], Froomey – all the guys actually – were giving a hand today fetching bottles. They did a lot of work throughout the day. “It is a hard day coming up tomorrow. For GC those guys in the break are not that significant so all the big teams have said we don’t have to bring them back if it’s a reasonable gap. It was about coming home safe and it was the same for us too.
“It was really selective. It was a tough climb, especially after 140km it’s very hard. It was hot again today it went up to 38 degrees. It dropped down a bit to about 34 but it’s very hot! You have to drink a lot and it will be the same again tomorrow.â€
Mark Cavendish meanwhile said on Twitter, “Well if the last climb today was only Category 3, then I can safely say this Vuelta is going to be SAVAGE. Congratulations to Lastras today.”
Stage
1. LASTRAS, Pablo   MOV   3h 58′ 00”
2. CHAVANEL, Sylvain   QST   + 15”
3. IRIZAR, Markel   RSH   + 15”
4. PYDGORNYY, Ruslan   VCD   + 15”
5. ROCHE, Nicolas   ALM   + 1′ 43”
6. BRESCHEL, Matti   RAB   + 1′ 43”
7. AGNOLI, Valerio   LIQ   + 1′ 43”
8. GAVAZZI, Francesco   LAM   + 1′ 43”
9. GASPAROTTO, Enrico   AST   + 1′ 43”
10. BAKELANDTS, Jan   OLO   + 1′ 43
12. FROOME, Christopher   SKY   + 1′ 43”
13. WIGGINS, Bradley   SKY   + 1′ 43′
20. MARTIN, Daniel   GRM   + 1′ 43
Overall
1. LASTRAS, Pablo   MOV   8h 25′ 59”
2. CHAVANEL, Sylvain   QST   + 20”
3. IRIZAR, Markel   RSH   + 1′ 08”
4. PYDGORNYY, Ruslan   VCD   + 1′ 24”
5. FUGLSANG, Jakob   LEO   + 1′ 55”
6. MONFORT, Maxime   LEO   + 1′ 55”
7. NIBALI, Vincenzo   LIQ   + 1′ 59”
8. AGNOLI, Valerio   LIQ   + 1′ 59”
9. CAPECCHI, Eros   LIQ   + 1′ 59”
10. SIVTSOV, Kanstantsin   THR   + 2′ 04”
41. WIGGINS, Bradley   SKY   + 2′ 37”
