La Molina, 26th of March – 2014
Today’s 162 kilometer long third stage of Volta a Catalunya was the first big test between the contenders for the overall win of race finishing with an uphill finish to La Molina – a perfect scenario for a thrilling battle between the big favourites, Tinkoff-Saxo’s Alberto Contador, Chris Froome (Sky) and Nairo Quintana (Movistar).
On the penultimate climb, Tinkoff-Saxo went to the front of the pack setting the pace and started shaving down the time difference between the pack and the six breakaway riders. Taking on the final climb, Katusha and Movistar took part of the pace making in the field which was soon stretched out and riders started to drop while the front group crumbled.
With six remaining kilometers, the last standing escapee was reeled in while Movistar pushed the pace and Tinkoff-Saxo’s Alberto Contador was well protected by teammates. The race didn’t open before the penultimate kilometer, where Jakob Fuglsang (Astana) justed drifted away from the pack. But being caught, Chris Froome (Sky) launched a counter-attack. Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) continued the pace as Froome paused and Contador followed the Katusha-rider and finished a few seconds behind his compatriot while Nairo Quintana (Movistar) came in third.
Tinkoff-Saxo’s Contador is now second overall as well:
“The boys did a solid job keeping a high pace and protecting Alberto until the final kilometers of the stage where it was all down to the GC riders to fight it out. Rodriguez is a difficult man to beat in an explosive final like this and I’m happy to see Alberto finishing second ahead of both Quintana and Froome. Tomorrow’s stage will be harder with longer climbs and I expect Katusha to be in charge of the pace and we’ll wait and see how the race develops,” said Tinkoff-Saxo DS, Philippe Mauduit after the stage.
Stage result:
Joaquin Rodriguez
2. Alberto Contador + 0.05
Nairo Quintana + 0.09
Tejay van Garderen + 0.11
Chris Froome + 0.13
Domineco Pozzovivo + 0.14
Wilco Kelderman + 0.14
Andrew Talansky + 0.14
Romain Bardet + 0.14
Przemyslaw Niemiec + 0.20
