Hola! It's stage 3 of the Vuelta and today we have a first opportunity for the sprinters...maybe. The Vuelta doesn't really do flat stages, and this one contains a big first-category climb followed by a third-category climb in the first half of the parcours. The second half is easier but still up and down, meaning the sprinters and their teams have their work cut out if they are to control what will likely be a keen breakaway and bring about a first - and rare - opportunity at this Vuelta.
Here's the profile
Before we get underway, let's recap yesterday's action. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) won the uphill sprint at the Caminito del Rey, edging out Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky), who moved into the red jersey of overall leader after Rohan Dennis lost 13 minutes. A full report, full results, and a photo gallery can be found at the link below.
1 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Team Sky 4:22:40 2 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team 0:00:14 3 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team Sunweb 0:00:25 4 Laurens De Plus (Bel) Quick-Step Floors 0:00:28 5 Ion Izagirre (Spa) Bahrain-Merida 0:00:30 6 Fabio Felline (Ita) Trek-Segafredo 7 Emanuel Buchmann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:32 8 Tony Gallopin (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:00:33 9 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team 10 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo 0:00:35 11 Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo 0:00:37 12 Simon Yates (GBr) Mitchelton-Scott 13 Enric Mas (Spa) Quick-Step Floors 0:00:42 14 Rafal Majka (Pol) Bora-Hansgrohe 15 Dries Devenyns (Bel) Quick-Step Floors 0:00:43 16 Thibaut Pinot (Fra) Groupama-FDJ 17 Victor Campenaerts (Bel) Lotto Soudal 0:00:44 18 George Bennett (NZl) LottoNL-Jumbo 0:00:45 19 Fabio Aru (Ita) UAE Team Emirates 0:00:47 20 Rigoberto Uran (Col) EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale 0:00:48
Stunning day here in Mijas - stage 3 of #LaVuelta18 about to get underway pic.twitter.com/WDqA7gvFBA
Here's Kwiatkowski in the red jersey
The riders are rolling. After a short neutralised zone, the race will be underway in a few minutes' time.
One rider who could be in with a shout today is Matteo Trentin (Mitchelton-Scott), winner of four stages last year. He should be in good shape, having recently become European champion, and the hillier nature of this stage should suit him well. Here he is this morning shoving ice down his back - it's another hot one in the south of Spain.
They're off!
The flag is waved and the racing is underway. Here comes the fight for the breakaway.
We have an early breakaway of six riders. They are:
Nans Peters (AG2R-La Mondiale)
Pierre Rolland (EF Education First-Drapac)
Jordi Simón (Burgos-BH)
Antonio Molina (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA)
Luis Ángel Maté (Cofidis)
Héctor Sáez (Euskadi-Murias)
2:15 is the gap after 7 kilometres as Sky come to the front of the peloton and allow the sextet to head up the road.
It was a bad day yesterday for BMC Racing in their final Grand Tour before the merger with CCC. Not only did Dennis slip out of the overall lead, but Richie Porte also lost 13 minutes, ending any hopes he had of contesting the GC. The Australian had sought to play down his chances but it seems he was affected by illness on the eve of the race and he will now have to get through the opening week before maybe targeting stages in the final week as he sharpens his form for the World Championships.
Dennis and Porte weren't the only big names to suffer yesterday. Vincenzo Nibali, who broke a vertebra at the Tour de France, lost four minutes, while Ilnur Zakarin crashed and lost a minute, with pain reported in his shoulder this morning. Also Peter Sagan, who some had tipped for the win yesterday, was some way off the pace. The world champion might have been among the favourites for today but after yesterday that doesn't seem so likely.
158km remaining from 178km
After 20km, the six escapees have a lead of three minutes over the peloton.
We're approaching the first climb of the day
Puerto del Madroño
Category 1
20.1km
4.9%
This break has a familiar feel about it, with Rolland, Maté, and Sáez all up the road yesterday, as well. As a result, Maté is wearing the white and blue spotted jersey as leader of the mountains classification, and will no doubt be looking to add to his tally at the top of this climb.
Incidentally, Maté has the added motivating of racing in his home region of Málaga.
"I'm thrilled to be here and hope to have a good day," he said this morning. "It's always nice to be on the podium at such an important race as the Vuelta. Today's a hard day, with the Madroño, and we'll try to get ourselves up front."
Job done.
The breakaway riders are a third of the way up the Madroño and have extended their lead to four minutes.
Our top story today is the big news that Aqua Blue Sport will fold at the end of the season. You might remember them making their Grand Tour debut at the Vuelta last year, and winning a stage, but they have struggled for invites this year and, after a failed merger with the Verandas Willems Crelan team, announced they will not continue in 2019, even if they hope to return to the peloton "some time in the future".
The six breakaway riders covered 37.5km in the first hour of racing.
Interestingly, today's stage is considered to be one for the sprinters but they will not be enjoying this climb at the moment. There is still one more climb to go, plus some undulating terrain, and even the technical director Kiko Garcia isn't too sure that the billing of a sprinter's day is really true.
"It’s supposed to be the first sprinters stage. But they should be wary of the course, with a long climb again at the start. If the pace is high, legs will already feel tired. And then there’s more uphill ground, the heat, the wind… On paper, there are quite some downhills for sprinters to get back but I’m not 100% positive. Yesterday, Bouhanni looked good, Viviani should be there too. With Sagan, you never know. Maybe he just saw he didn’t have the legs and let go, and he could be good today. We have a strong field with the world champion, the European champion and the Italian champion," Garcia said of today's stage.
With the top of the first climb in sight, the gap to the escapees is hovering around the four-minute mark.
This is what the mountains classification looked like after yesterday's stage.
1 Luis Angel Mate Mardones (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions Credits 11 pts 2 Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Lotto Soudal 5 3 Pierre Rolland (Fra) EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale 4 4 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team 3 5 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Team Sky 2 6 Laurens De Plus (Bel) Quick-Step Floors 1 7 Alexis Gougeard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 1
Mikel Landa is not at the Vuelta a Espana after fracturing a vertebra at San Sebastian earlier this month. However, he's still creating some headlines with Astana boss Alexandre Vinokourov saying that he's looking to sign his former rider. Read the full story here.
As the leading group crests the top of the first climb, the gap falls slightly to 3:47. Team Sky has been doing much of the pulling on the front but Quick-Step Floors have put several riders to the front to look after things for Elia Viviani.
Meanwhile, unsurprisingly, we get confirmation that Mate took the points at the top to extend his lead in the mountains classification.
Here was the peloton a short while ago as Team Sky controlled things on the front.
121km remaining from 178km
Official results from the Puerto del Madroño. Mate now has 21 points in the mountains classification.
Quick-Step are leading the peloton down this descent. The gap stands at three minutes and Viviani is in tow so they'll be happy with the situation at the minute.
The break have just gone through the picturesque city of Ronda, perched atop a canyon, with a spectacular bridge separating the new and old towns. The road will soon be heading uphill again for the second climb of the day.
The riders are on the second and final categorised climb of the day. It's the Puerto del Viento, which means 'climb of the wind'. It's 10km long but only 3.3% in gradient.
97km remaining from 178km
On the climb the gap has come down to two minutes.
There's no real urgency yet in the peloton as riders stop for toilet breaks. It's still Quick-Step on the front tapping out a steady tempo.
And now an injection of pace as Maté sprints with the KOM banner in sight.
And Maté does indeed bag himself three more points to extend his lead in that jersey. Rolland was second again.
Peter Sagan is right at the back as the peloton approaches the summit.
88km remaining from 178km
Here's a reminder of the stage profile
Ion and Gorka Izagirre are both out there racing but it has just been announced that the brothers will leave Bahrain-Merida and ride for Astana for next season. Here's the story:
The riders are hurtling downhill once more en route to the feed zone.
78km remaining from 178km
The gap has nudged up again to 2:20 as the riders take their musettes. It's a late lunch in the typically Andalucían setting of rolling roads flanked by parched olive groves.
It's Kasper Asgreen on the front for Quick-Step. The Danish neo-pro is being put straight to work in his debut Grand Tour.
And now the gap comes tumbling down as the break get through their lunch. It currently stands at 1:22.
We speculated that this stage could be a tricky one for the sprint teams and a potential opportunity for the break, but so far there have been no issues whatsoever. In fact, the main danger for Quick-Step at the moment would probably be catching the break too early, and thus opening the door to potentially more dangerous counter attacks later on from fresher riders.
After three hours of racing, the average speed of the day is a lowly 35.1km/h. That can perhaps be attributed to the stiff headwind that has been blowing pretty much since they turned out of Ronda.
67km remaining from 178km
The gap remains stable at 1:18 and the breakaway riders are chatting to each other. They look like they're out for a club run to be honest. I don't think even they have any belief whatsoever they can cause an upset, so at the moment we're just ambling along towards a bunch sprint finish.
Quick-Step have been doing all the work today, not that the pace has been too taxing. They have the favourite here in Elia Viviani, who is one of the most successful sprinters of the season and now wearing the tricolore of Italian national champion. As well as form - he won the Hamburg Classic last weekend - he also has his strongest lead-out, with Michael Morkov and Fabio Sabatini.
The riders are on the latter part of the descent towards the final 50km.
Our top story today is the big news that Aqua Blue Sport will fold at the end of the season. You might remember them making their Grand Tour debut at the Vuelta last year, and winning a stage, but they have struggled for invites this year and, after a failed merger with the Verandas Willems Crelan team, announced they will not continue in 2019, even if they hope to return to the peloton "some time in the future".
Bora-Hansgrohe have placed a representative on the front of the bunch now. Perhaps Sagan is feeling better than yesterday.
Puncture for Rolland in the break
Rolland drops back to the peloton, who are just 55 seconds behind the break.
The gap still stands at 1 minute, with 46km to go.
A reminder that we now have five riders in the break. They are:
Nans Peters (AG2R-La Mondiale)
Jordi Simón (Burgos-BH)
Antonio Molina (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA)
Luis Ángel Maté (Cofidis)
Héctor Sáez (Euskadi-Murias)
The riders are heading uphill once more and will do so until the intermediate sprint with 26km to go. It doesn't seem to have been a taxing day but the elevation gain will nevertheless add up and might perhaps be a factor in the sprint.
Some action!
Yes, really. A counter attack has just pinged off the front of the bunch. There are two from Lotto Soudal and one from Bora.
It's Victor Campenaerts and Jelle Wallays for Lotto, and Lukas Postlberger for Bora.
And now another one joins the fun. It's Alexis Gougeard (AG2R), who was in the break yesterday - and indeed most of the days he pins a race number on.
No panic from Quick-Step for the moment.
Jordi Simon attacks from the break as the chasers come into the rearview mirror.
Campenaerts, Wallays, Gougeard, and Postlberger reach the four remaining breakaway riders.
41km remaining from 178km
So, we now have a lone leader - Jordi Simon - with 8 chasers at 17 seconds and the peloton at 49 seconds.
Quick-Step are back on the front and the pace has been increased in response to the added impetus in the break.
Jordi Simon is caught. We now have 9 riders out front with a lead of 44 seconds over the peloton.
Jelle Wallays is dropped from the break.
36km remaining from 178km
Peters drives the break on, with Gougeard in the wheel. 44 seconds is the gap.
Here was Viviani at the start this morning, in his Italian champion's jersey
30km remaining from 178km
The breakaway riders are still giving it everything. They'll soon be at the intermediate sprint back at Mijas.
The gap is down to half a minute.
The breakaway riders hit 70km/h on a downhill section but then the road tips uphill once more, and that's it for Nans Peters, who has been out front since the start.
While Peters is spat out of the back, Jordi Simon once again attacks out of the front.
The stage profile looks hilly enough but it really doesn't do justice to how 'up-and-down' this day has been.
Simon is caught by the remaining breakaway riders. So we have 7 out front with a gap of 30 seconds over the peloton.
Here comes the intermediate sprint. The break just roll through it, more interested in trying to stay away. It looks like Gougeard will take maximum points by virtue of being on the front of the group as they crossed the line.
24km remaining from 178km
The gap is down to 20 seconds, with 24km to go.
Crash! Campenaerts is down.
The Belgian had been pressing on on the false flat section, and had even put Gougeard in difficulty. When the road titled downhill again, though, he was too keen, and overcooked a right-hand bend.
Campenaerts is ok to continue.
Movistar have taken over at the front of the bunch as the descent continues.
Postlberger is keen to kick on in the break and he's opened up a gap over the rest of the escapees.
17km remaining from 178km
Héctor Sáez has been dropped so it's Maté, Gougeard, Molina, and Simón chasing Postlberger. 10 seconds is the gap.
It's still Movistar leading down the descent. 25 seconds is the gap to the front of the race.
13km remaining from 178km
13km to go and still Postlberger leads solo as the crowds thicken in town.
If not Viviani, then who?
Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) suffered yesterday, so perhaps won't be counted among the favourites today. Matteo Trentin (Mitchelton-Scott), four-time stage winner last year and the recently-crowned European champion, should be in the mix. Other sprinters here include Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis), who'll be itching for a win after being snubbed by his team for the Tour de France, and Giaccomo Nizzolo (Trek-Segafredo), who has only won one race all season. Other outsiders include Danny Van Poppel (LottoNL-Jumbo), Max Walscheid (Sunweb), Marc Sarreau (FDJ), and Ryan Gibbons (Dimension Data).
Gougeard has attacked the other chasers and is now in solo pursuit of Postlberger.
Gougeard and the rest are caught by the peloton.
Quick-Step have taken back control of the peloton. Just Postlberger left out front.
10km remaining from 178km
Last 10km!
Postlberger has 10 seconds.
Movistar hit the front once more.
Postlberger is still at 10 seconds but the peloton can see him now as they come onto a long, straight highway.
6km remaining from 178km
The gap comes down to five seconds and the catch is imminent.
Postlberger eases up and pulls to the side of the road. He gives a wave to the crowds and lets the sprint trains get on with it.
All together! 6km to go
Movistar have three men on the front, followed by Kwiatkowski's Sky.
The GC teams will want to get to that 3km-to-go safety net, but it's surprising that the sprint trains aren't winding up yet, with just over 5km to go.
Trek are now lining up on the right for Nizzolo
Sagan, Bouhanni, and Van Poppel are all up towards the front. Viviani nowhere to be seen at the moment.
4km remaining from 178km
4km to go. Big left-hand turn. Movistar raise the pace once more.
Bora put Davide Formolo on the front. The pace isn't high yet.
Final 3km. This still isn't winding up.
Jay McCarthy is on the front now, with Sagan on his wheel.
Morkov has brought Viviani up towards the front now.
2km remaining from 178km
2km to go and it's a draggy approach on these false flat roads. LottoNL hit the front now.
LottoNL take a roundabout in pole position and are set to lead this out.
1km remaining from 178km
Flamme rouge!
An FDJ rider kicks on now as the bunch strings out.
A Caja Rural rider goes from range.
Van Poppel opens up
But Morkov leads Viviani out, and here he goes...
Viviani takes it with a powerful sprint, beating Nizzolo.
Elia Viviani (Quick-Step Floors) wins stage 3 of the Vuelta a España.
Great work from Quick-Step there, with Morkov delivering Viviani at just the right moment. No one else had a teammate at that point. Once Viviani went it was a commanding turn of speed and a convincing victory.
Sagan took third place there, Bouhanni fourth.
"It was beautiful," says Viviani, who wins his first Vuelta stage.
"I have no words, again, for the team. Being the strongest is difficult because nobody helps to pull. It was just Sky working until the end of the big climb. We used Pieter Serry and the young Kasper Asgreen really to pull all day. It's difficult to control a stage like this but we wanted it, and every time we commit like that, 90 per cent of the time we are in one line controlling. That's being a team. All day we go for one goal. Yesterday we were close with [Laurens] De Plus], and today we were very focused. We didn't know if we would win or not, because with 3000m of elevation gain it's not an easy sprint, but the Vuelta is always like that.
"I'm really happy. This wonderful season continues..."
Top 10
1 Elia Viviani (Ita) Quick-Step Floors 04:48:12 2 Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Trek-Segafredo 3 Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe 4 Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits 5 Simone Consonni (Ita) UAE Team Emirates 6 Danny van Poppel (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo 7 Michael Morkov (Den) Quick-Step Floors 8 Matteo Trentin (Ita) Mitchelton-Scott 9 Ryan Gibbons (RSA) Dimension Data 10 Tom Van Asbroeck (Bel) EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale
General Classification after stage 3
1 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Team Sky 09:10:52 2 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team 00:00:14 3 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team Sunweb 00:00:25 4 Laurens De Plus (Bel) Quick-Step Floors 00:00:28 5 Ion Izagirre (Spa) Bahrain-Merida 00:00:30 6 Fabio Felline (Ita) Trek-Segafredo 7 Emanuel Buchmann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe 00:00:32 8 Tony Gallopin (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 00:00:33 9 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team 10 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo 00:00:35
That's win number 15 of the season for Viviani, for whom the decision to leave Sky for Quick-Step looks increasingly inspired - both on his part and that of Patrick Lefevere, who shipped out Marcel Kittel, with the German stuck on two wins this year.
Viviani hit four at the Giro - can he do the same again in Spain?
