La Vuelta stage 3:Prades Conflent-Andorra la Vella 158km

neris

First hilly day of this years race and 2 Cat1s & a Cat2 on the way to Andorra. Some good climbers & GC contenders within 40 seconds of the red jersey. Day for gains and losses possibly if the legs arent up to it.

Fernando Escartin's thoughts
The peloton will ride comfortably up until Andorra, where a first natural selection process will take place. The climb to La Comella, short yet explosive, will take care of the rest. It will be complicated to organise a breakaway but we do not write off the possibility of attacks in the very last kilometre. If one of the strong riders shows any signs of weakness, this could complicate his Vuelta.

Last KM




TV Times
Eurosport: 1145-1700
Eurosport highlights: 2000-2100
ITV4 highlights: 1900-2000

Off topic: The hamburg classic highlights are on Eurosport from 1700-1825 if you havent had enough cycling by 5pm

dastardly00

The stage starts officially at 12.15 (GMT) so Eurosport must be showing the whole stage live

Glad they are covering this one early given they early climb.

De Gendt to try for the break as usual maybe?

EDIT: There he is at the front waiting for the flag

Daroxtar

Bertie to go long. I'm expecting this every day.

robyntmorton

The conversation between Sean and Carlton about accommodation (I suppose you have to fill the time with something anyway)

I found the bit about the Sky Motorhome funny though.

(For those who haven't seen it - https://www.teamsky.com/article/team-sky-race-hub-makes-its-debut-at-the-vuelta)

It will not be seen at the Vuelta though. UCI cracked down on it more or less instantly - for the reason of "Accommodation Doping"

Is nothing free of doping any more?

Good on Niemiec for getting on to the break there.

dastardly00

You can nearly always rely on De Gendt to be in the breakaway

I was Omar Fraile (Dimension Data) might have made an appearance as well but not to be.

MPFGLB

I dont think Bertie will go on the rampage until the final week...he has to pick his moments as its not something he can do every day (anymore)

Also SKY and Froome will bide their time...after all Froome has a Tour in his legs and really only needs the 40 KM TT to win the Vuelta if he hangs in there on other days
Remember it has not been done for many many years and is no mean feat ...so Froome will not waste energy if he wants to win GC

The only action will be from riders who need to make up time ...like Nibali who may try on the downhill or Bardet

Other like SK , etc are not suited to this finale ...and will come to the fore in the final week if still in contention

No one will go mental today

dastardly00

12 km to go.

dastardly00

Peloton really strung out on this climb. Serious pace.

dastardly00

Bertie gone out the back already

dastardly00

Nico is in the lead group I think

neris

surprised with Chaves doing so well

dastardly00

Froome & Chavez ahead of the rest

neris

Nibbles out the back

neris

bye Bye Bertie

neris

Roche back with Nibali

manwithaplan

Just following text updates. Does it look like it's coming back together. Roche wouldn't be without a chance in a gallop.

neris

go nico come on

Nico and co back on wow !!!! this is a cracker.

cunavalos

roche possibly in red if froome gets no bonus

buffalo

That's a top ten for Nico... in the running for red?

De Bhál

good finish

neris

that was flippin brilliant, Nibali and Roche did well getting back in on that

TheJak01

That was a lot of fun. Great stage. Chaves looks on form.

Daroxtar

Brilliant finish. Please let the rest of the race continue like this

manwithaplan

Van Garderen ahead of Roche on countback? Did Froome pick up a couple of seconds in an intermediate sprint?

cunavalos

roche misses out on race lead by two seconds up to 3rd behind froome and de la cruz

buffalo

aww, Roche joint second by 2" from Froome.

neris

Nico 2 seconds back off froome who leads

Inquitus

Cracking race, GC race reduced to not many now.