Team Sky’s Sergio Henao battled his way elbow to elbow to victory on stage 3 of the Vuelta al Pais Vasco to move into the race lead on stage three with Richie Porte now 3rd overall.
![]() |
The Team Sky rider went elbow to elbow with compatriot Carlos Betancur (AG2R-La Mondiale) on the final climb in Trapagaran to win by half a wheel-length in an exciting mountaintop battle. Victory on the climb, which ramped up to 21%, elevated Henao into an eight-second race lead in the Basque Country stage race while team-mate Richie Porte completed a great day for Team Sky with sixth on the stage, enough to move into third overall, 10 seconds back.
Video of the final few kilometres
A consistent opening trio of stages also saw Henao pull on the points jersey. The 25-year-old had been active on the final climb of the Alto de la Lejana, kicking early on to thin out the lead group before attacking a second time in the final metres, bridging across to Betancur and fellow escapee Giampaolo Caruso (Katusha) on the crowd lined climb.
Caruso held on for third ahead of a number of GC contenders, led home by Nairo Quintana (Movistar) eight seconds back while Diego Ulissi (Lampre-Merida), Porte, Alberto Contador (Team Saxo-Tinkoff) and Simon Spilak (Katusha) claimed places five-through-eight, all 10 seconds back.
The stage was a key battleground in the fight for the general classification and the 167 kilometre race kicked off with no-one able to break clear on the run out of Vitoria-Gasteiz. Five men eventually broke the elastic and made a move stick ahead of the opening climb of the Alto de Zarate.
Photo: http://vueltapaisvasco.diariovasco.com
Amets Txurruka (Caja Rural) was yet again in an agressive mood by attacking for the third day in a row alongside team-mate Omar Fraile, Mikel Landa (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Romain Bardet (AG2R-La Mondiale) and Daniel Navarro (Cofidis). Movistar came to the front and set a hard pace as the race entered the final climbs, finally consuming the breakaway with 9km left ahead of the Alto de la Lejana.
In the finale, the big names came to the fore on the steep early slopes, Henao taking it up to leave just 10 riders at the head of affairs before a brief regrouping as the gradient slackened off. A brief descent saw a speculative dig from Betancur and Caruso causing the favourites to look around before Henao launched his winning attack.
Stage 3
1. HENAO MONTOYA Sergio Luis Sky Procycling 03:54:22
2. BETANCUR GOMEZ Carlos Alberto AG2R La Mondiale @ st
3. CARUSO Giampaolo Katusha Team 00:05
4. QUINTANA ROJAS Nairo Alexander Movistar Team 00:08
5. ULISSI Diego Lampre – Merida 00:10
6. PORTE Richie Sky Procycling @ st
7. CONTADOR VELASCO Alberto Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
8. SPILAK Simon Katusha Team @ st
9. ANTON HERNANDEZ Igor Euskaltel – Euskadi 00:16
10. SANCHEZ GONZALEZ Samuel Euskaltel – Euskadi 00:21
52. GILBERT Philippe BMC Racing Team 02:43
60. SCHLECK Andy RadioShack – Leopard 03:04
106. CUMMINGS Stephen BMC Racing Team 10.19
126. TIERNAN-LOCKE Jonathan Sky Procycling 13.21
Overall
1. HENAO MONTOYA Sergio Luis Sky Procycling 12:24:26
2. QUINTANA ROJAS Nairo Alexander Movistar Team 00:08
3. PORTE Richie Sky Procycling 00:10
4. CONTADOR VELASCO Alberto Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
5. CARUSO Giampaolo Katusha Team @ st
6. SPILAK Simon Katusha Team @ st
7. FUGLSANG Jakob Astana Pro Team 00:21
8. WEENING Pieter Orica GreenEDGE @ st
9. HERRADA LOPEZ Jose Movistar Team @ st
10. BETANCUR GOMEZ Carlos Alberto AG2R La Mondiale @ st
57. SCHLECK Andy RadioShack – Leopard 04:28
101. TIERNAN-LOCKE Jonathan Sky Procycling 14.05
143. CUMMINGS Stephen BMC Racing Team 25:25
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- Crit Result: Odd Down Winter Series 3
- Crit Result: Velo29 Winter Series 3
- Track Result: Premier Division Manchester Track League #4
- Team Feature: Hutchinson/Brother UK
- Events: Spring MK Bowl Circuit Series
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Series (LVVP #13)
- Events: RCR Fatcreations Road Race
- Team News: DAS Handsling Women’s UCI Team
- News: GB for European Track Championships
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Series (Hillingdon #6)
- CX Result: NWCCA CX League Round 9
- CX Result: London/SE CX League Rd 10
- CX Result: Wessex CX League Rd 13
- CX Result: Eastern Cyclo-Cross League 11
- CX Result: East Kent CX League 5
- British Track Championships: Day 3 Report
- Track Results: British Track Championhip Results (para)
- Track Results: British Track Championship Results (M)
- Track Result: British Track Championships Results (W)
- British Track Championships: Day 2 Report
- Q&A: Sophie Lankford (Alba Team)
- Team Feature: Sam Watson’s Journey to WorldTour
- News: Rayner Foundation’s Gateway Project
- News: Star Names Sign up for Saint Piran 05/03 Team
- News: 58th Perfs Pedal RR
- Track Result: Premier Division Manchester Track League
- News: GB Team for CX Worlds
- Team News: MAS Design – Fensham Howes Junior Team
- 2022/2023 National Trophy Cyclocross Series Final Standings
- EVENTS: The Peaks 2 Day p/b Giant Sheffield
- TEAM NEWS: Kalas Motip Race Team for 2023
- Team News: Rotor UK Sponsor Team AT85
- CX Result: Leicestershire Cyclo-Cross League Rd 7
- CX Result: Wessex CX League, Rd 12
- CX Result: Eastern Region CX League Rd 10
- Q&A: Vicky Smith (Alba Development Road Team)
- Track Result: First Division Manchester Track League
- Track Result: Premier Division Manchester Track League
- Crit Result: LVYCC Winter Races 1
- British Track Championships Jan 26-29
Other News on VeloUK
- Team Feature: Hutchinson/Brother UK
- Events: Spring MK Bowl Circuit Series
- Events: RCR Fatcreations Road Race
- Team News: DAS Handsling Women’s UCI Team
- News: GB for European Track Championships
- Q&A: Sophie Lankford (Alba Team)
- News: Rayner Foundation’s Gateway Project
- News: Star Names Sign up for Saint Piran 05/03 Team
- News: 58th Perfs Pedal RR
- News: GB Team for CX Worlds
- Team News: MAS Design – Fensham Howes Junior Team
- EVENTS: The Peaks 2 Day p/b Giant Sheffield
- TEAM NEWS: Kalas Motip Race Team for 2023
- Team News: Rotor UK Sponsor Team AT85
- Q&A: Vicky Smith (Alba Development Road Team)
- British Track Championships Jan 26-29
- Event News: Midlands handicap league returns in 2023
- News: Alba DRT Riders Inspired to Step Up
- Race Dates: Track Events 2023
- News: Santini Cycling UK
- News: Wightlink-Wight Mountain CRT Report
- Events: Velo Club St Raphael Time Trial
- Startlist: British Cyclocross Championships 2023
- BRITISH CYCLOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2023
- News: Brother UK Continues to Sponsor Cycling
- Dave Rayner Fund Supported Riders
- Event news: British Team Cup
- National Trophy: Final Round, Cyclopark
- News: Pedal Club December Lunch Report
- Team News: Velo Bavarian Race Team 2023
- 2023 British teams – Richardson’s Trek
- Team News: 26th Year for Arctic-Aircon RT
- Event News: British Masters RR Champs
- News: West Midlands RR Calendar
- Team News: New cycling team in Central Region
- News: UCI World Masters Track Championships
- 2023: National Under 23, Youth & Junior Road Series
- National Trophy Cyclocross Round 5: Startlist
- News: 2023 British National Road Series
- New Bikes! Ribble’s Reynolds 725 (Gravel bike)