Carlos Rodriguez salvages second place on queen stage
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Michael Woods (Israel-Premier Tech) wins stage 3 and takes over GC lead(Image credit: Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)
Michael Woods (Israel-Premier Tech) wins stage and takes GC lead(Image credit: Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)
Michael Woods rides solo across line for stage 3 win(Image credit: Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)
Michael Woods wins stage 3(Image credit: Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)
A general view of peloton passing through Pesilhan de Conflent village(Image credit: Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)
Leading peloton is Kim Heiduk, Salvatore Puccio of Ineos Grenadiers during stage 3(Image credit: Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)
Laurent Pichon of Team Arkéa-Samsic (Image credit: Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)
Nans Peters of AG2R Citroën Team competes in the breakaway(Image credit: Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)
Roger Adria Oliveras of eam Equipo Kern Pharma in Red Leader Jersey (Image credit: Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)
Simon Carr of EF Education-EasyPost celebrates winning the Occitanie Jersey (Image credit: Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)
Carlos Rodriguez Cano of Ineos Grenadiers sprints to second place at Les Angles(Image credit: Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)
Carlos Rodriguez Cano of Ineos Grenadiers celebrates winning the white best young jersey(Image credit: Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)
Michael Woods of Israel-Premier Tech celebrates winning the Blue Mountain Jersey(Image credit: Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)
Michael Woods on the podium as stage 3 winner(Image credit: Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)
Michael Woods (Israel-Premier Tech) won stage 3 of La Route d’Occitanie, kicking away from Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos Grenadiers) on the mountaintop finish of Les Angles.
The duo broke free from a 12-rider group on the climb of Col de Hares, the fourth of five categorised climbs on the queen stage, Rodriguez leading the charge with 20km to go and Woods following. Nairo Quintana (Arkéa-Samsic) tried to follow but could not stay on the wheels of the twosome.
Along the final 2.7 kilometres on the steep Balcère climb to Les Angles, seven riders battled to reach the front. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) accelerated in a final effort but was soon caught by Jesus Herrada (Cofidis) and as a pair they had a struggling Rodriguez in their sights with 500 metres to go. Finishing on second behind Rodriguez, Herrada surged across the line ahead of Valverde for the final podium spot.
Woods takes over the red leader’s jersey, taking 1:16 advantage over Rodriguez and another five seconds over Herrada into the final day of racing on Sunday. The Canadian also scooped up the points and climbing classification leads after the stage win.
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