Matthews wins stage 3 of Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco

Michael Matthews (Orica GreenEdge) won stage 3 of the Vuelta al Pais Vasco from Urdazubi to Gasteiz after a perfect leadout from his teammate Simon Gerrans. The pair hit the front of the peloton in tandem inside the final 800 meters, with Matthews coming through to dominate the sprint and finish ahead of Kévin Reza (Team Europcar) and Michal Kwiatkowski (Omega Pharma - Quick-Step).

Alberto Contador (Tinkoff Saxo) had a relatively easy day and retains his overall lead with Alejando Valverde in second place, 14 seconds down.

Matthews, who won two stages in the Vuelta a Espana last year, clearly enjoys racing in Spain, and this was his second win of the season here, after he won the Vuelta a La Rioja earlier this month.

Clearly in form, he allowed Gerrans to drop him off with almost 250 meters to go and despite challenges from Ben Swift (Team Sky), and a late surge from Reza, he was able to hang on.

A day for the sprinters?

The Basque Country doesn't do typical sprint stages. While the likes of Marcel Kittel, Alessandro Petacchi and Sam Bennett locked horns in Scheldeprijs - a more sprint-friendly race you'll never find - a different set of fastmen battled in Spain. Nothing is easy for them here. A mere glimpse at the road book would have induced eye-rolling and sighs as they scanned a stage profile that included two second category climbs in the first 40 kilometres of racing, the first of which came after only eight kilometres.

Andy Schleck (Trek), currently a shadow of the rider he once was, and over 12 minutes down on GC, was one of the first men to attack. He linked up with Natnael Berhane (Europcar), Ben King (Garmin-Sharp), Omar Fraile (Caja Rural-RGA), Davide Villela (Cannondale) and Matteo Montaguti (Ag2r La Mondiale).

Despite their efforts, the peloton were unwilling to let the move establish a serious threat and they were quickly reeled in.

Rubén Fernández (Caja Rural-RGA) was the next opportunist, although he would have hoped and expected some support when he attacked after roughly 40 kilometres of racing. It wasn't forthcoming and the Spaniard, after a long gaze back in hope, was forced to plough on.

One lone rider with no GC footing meant that the peloton were willing to give the Caja Rural man over eight minutes, and although it proved to be a generous head start, it was never going to be enough.

With 50km to go Fernández's lead had dropped to 3:37 and he was already flagging so badly that by the time he reached the penultimate climb with 35km to go, the lead was holding at just a minute.

The sprinters' teams, aware that opportunities to win here don't come around too often sensed blood. They had allowed a rider of Tony Martin's calibre too much room the previous day but on the Gasteiz climb they finally silenced Fernández's last hopes.

Team Sky, Movistar and Lampre drew themselves towards the front, and with the pace so high any attacks would have been futile.

On the Zaldiaran, a 2.8km lump inside the final 15km it was more of the same. Tony Martin took over the pace setting at the foot of the climb, churning a huge gear as a grateful Kwiatkowski hung tight. Contador and Valverde looked at each other and then slipped back - they have more serious battles over more testing terrain ahead of them - before Jan Bakelants took over from Martin. Here was another one of QuickStep's men from the previous day's break on song once more, and as the peloton crested the final climb, the sprinters prepared for the run-in.

With the majority of the best leadout trains at Scheldeprijs or fragmented either here or at home, the final kilometres came down to a frantic, uncontrollable game of who could make the least mistakes.

Swift looked in the ideal position when he bustled his way onto Matthews' rear wheel as Paul Martens and Daniele Ratto moved out the right after the peloton had safely navigated the tricky last kilometres. Gerrans' leadout was so good that it may have been harder for Matthews to lose rather than win, but he still had to be strong enough to hold on.

Results

Swipe to scroll horizontally
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica GreenEdge5:02:09
2Kévin Reza (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 1 - Cell 2
3Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 2 - Cell 2
4Ben Swift (GBr) Team SkyRow 3 - Cell 2
5Paul Martens (Ger) Belkin-Pro Cycling TeamRow 4 - Cell 2
6Yukiya Arashiro (Jpn) Team EuropcarRow 5 - Cell 2
7Daniele Ratto (Ita) CannondaleRow 6 - Cell 2
8Maxim Iglinskiy (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 7 - Cell 2
9Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 8 - Cell 2
10Tosh Van Der Sande (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 9 - Cell 2
11Damiano Caruso (Ita) CannondaleRow 10 - Cell 2
12Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Garmin SharpRow 11 - Cell 2
13Jan Polanc (Slo) Lampre-MeridaRow 12 - Cell 2
14Arnold Jeannesson (Fra) FDJ.frRow 13 - Cell 2
15Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 14 - Cell 2
16Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 15 - Cell 2
17Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 16 - Cell 2
18Simon Geschke (Ger) Team Giant-ShimanoRow 17 - Cell 2
19Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 18 - Cell 2
20Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La MondialeRow 19 - Cell 2
21Koldo Fernandez (Spa) Garmin SharpRow 20 - Cell 2
22Warren Barguil (Fra) Team Giant-ShimanoRow 21 - Cell 2
23Wout Poels (Ned) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 22 - Cell 2
24Daan Olivier (Ned) Team Giant-ShimanoRow 23 - Cell 2
25Michael Albasini (Swi) Orica GreenEdgeRow 24 - Cell 2
26Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing TeamRow 25 - Cell 2
27Caleb Fairly (USA) Garmin SharpRow 26 - Cell 2
28Simon Gerrans (Aus) Orica GreenEdgeRow 27 - Cell 2
29Michal Golas (Pol) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 28 - Cell 2
30Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) BMC Racing TeamRow 29 - Cell 2
31Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 30 - Cell 2
32Dennis Vanendert (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 31 - Cell 2
33Dominik Nerz (Ger) BMC Racing TeamRow 32 - Cell 2
34Robert Gesink (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling TeamRow 33 - Cell 2
35Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-MeridaRow 34 - Cell 2
36Pavel Brutt (Rus) Team KatushaRow 35 - Cell 2
37Andre Fernando S. Martins Cardoso (Por) Garmin SharpRow 36 - Cell 2
38Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 37 - Cell 2
39Alexsandr Dyachenko (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 38 - Cell 2
40Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team Giant-ShimanoRow 39 - Cell 2
41Matteo Montaguti (Ita) AG2R La MondialeRow 40 - Cell 2
42Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing TeamRow 41 - Cell 2
43Simon Yates (GBr) Orica GreenEdgeRow 42 - Cell 2
44Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 43 - Cell 2
45Iurii Trofimov (Rus) Team KatushaRow 44 - Cell 2
46José Herrada Lopez (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 45 - Cell 2
47Jon Izaguirre Insausti (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 46 - Cell 2
48Sergei Chernetckii (Rus) Team KatushaRow 47 - Cell 2
49Pieter Serry (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 48 - Cell 2
50Gorka Izaguirre Insausti (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 49 - Cell 2
51Peter Velits (Svk) BMC Racing TeamRow 50 - Cell 2
52Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) Trek Factory RacingRow 51 - Cell 2
53Mikel Nieve Ituralde (Spa) Team SkyRow 52 - Cell 2
54Lars Petter Nordhaug (Nor) Belkin-Pro Cycling TeamRow 53 - Cell 2
55Mikel Landa Meana (Spa) Astana Pro TeamRow 54 - Cell 2
56Sebastian Henao Gomez (Col) Team SkyRow 55 - Cell 2
57Romain Sicard (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 56 - Cell 2
58Amets Txurruka (Spa) Caja Rural - Seguros RGARow 57 - Cell 2
59Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa (Por) Lampre-MeridaRow 58 - Cell 2
60Stef Clement (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling TeamRow 59 - Cell 2
61Christian Meier (Can) Orica GreenEdgeRow 60 - Cell 2
62Jean Marc Marino (Fra) CannondaleRow 61 - Cell 2
63Simon Spilak (Slo) Team KatushaRow 62 - Cell 2
64Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana Pro TeamRow 63 - Cell 2
65Bauke Mollema (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling TeamRow 64 - Cell 2
66Alexis Vuillermoz (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 65 - Cell 2
67Tom Jelte Slagter (Ned) Garmin SharpRow 66 - Cell 2
68Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ.frRow 67 - Cell 2
69Kristijan Durasek (Cro) Lampre-MeridaRow 68 - Cell 2
70Davide Malacarne (Ita) Team EuropcarRow 69 - Cell 2
71Ben Gastauer (Lux) AG2R La MondialeRow 70 - Cell 2
72Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) FDJ.frRow 71 - Cell 2
73Pieter Weening (Ned) Orica GreenEdgeRow 72 - Cell 2
74Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Caja Rural - Seguros RGARow 73 - Cell 2
75Maxime Monfort (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 74 - Cell 2
76Jérémy Roy (Fra) FDJ.frRow 75 - Cell 2
77Cristiano Salerno (Ita) CannondaleRow 76 - Cell 2
78Fränk Schleck (Lux) Trek Factory RacingRow 77 - Cell 2
79Jonathan Hivert (Fra) Belkin-Pro Cycling TeamRow 78 - Cell 2
80Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 79 - Cell 2
81Rory Sutherland (Aus) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 80 - Cell 2
82David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caja Rural - Seguros RGARow 81 - Cell 2
83John Gadret (Fra) Movistar TeamRow 82 - Cell 2
84Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin SharpRow 83 - Cell 2
85Carlos Verona Quintanilla (Spa) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 84 - Cell 2
86Sander Armee (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 85 - Cell 2
87Kenny Elissonde (Fra) FDJ.frRow 86 - Cell 2
88Cyril Gautier (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 87 - Cell 2
89Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) FDJ.frRow 88 - Cell 2
90Amaël Moinard (Fra) BMC Racing TeamRow 89 - Cell 2
91Javier Moreno Bazan (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 90 - Cell 2
92Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) Trek Factory RacingRow 91 - Cell 2
93Ruben Plaza Molina (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 92 - Cell 2
94Benjamin King (USA) Garmin SharpRow 93 - Cell 2
95Matthew Busche (USA) Trek Factory RacingRow 94 - Cell 2
96Pierre Rolland (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 95 - Cell 2
97Andy Schleck (Lux) Trek Factory RacingRow 96 - Cell 2
98Maxime Mederel (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 97 - Cell 2
99David Tanner (Aus) Belkin-Pro Cycling Team0:00:16
100Johannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Team Giant-Shimano0:01:01
101Jan Bakelants (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team0:02:32
102Tony Martin (Ger) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 101 - Cell 2
103Julien Vermote (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 102 - Cell 2
104Alexander Kolobnev (Rus) Team KatushaRow 103 - Cell 2
105Michel Koch (Ger) CannondaleRow 104 - Cell 2
106Cayetano José Sarmiento Tunarrosa (Col) CannondaleRow 105 - Cell 2
107Adam Yates (GBr) Orica GreenEdgeRow 106 - Cell 2
108Michael Morkov (Den) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 107 - Cell 2
109Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 108 - Cell 2
110Jussi Veikkanen (Fin) FDJ.frRow 109 - Cell 2
111Angel Madrazo Ruiz (Spa) Caja Rural - Seguros RGARow 110 - Cell 2
112Rafael Valls Ferri (Spa) Lampre-Merida0:03:17
113Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez (Col) Lampre-MeridaRow 112 - Cell 2
114Natnael Berhane (Eri) Team EuropcarRow 113 - Cell 2
115Thomas Damuseau (Fra) Team Giant-ShimanoRow 114 - Cell 2
116Xu Gang (Chn) Lampre-MeridaRow 115 - Cell 2
117Alessandro Vanotti (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 116 - Cell 2
118Davide Villella (Ita) CannondaleRow 117 - Cell 2
119Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica GreenEdgeRow 118 - Cell 2
120Fredrik Carl Wilhelm Kessiakoff (Swe) Astana Pro TeamRow 119 - Cell 2
121Fabricio Ferrari Barcelo (Uru) Caja Rural - Seguros RGARow 120 - Cell 2
122Nelson Filipe Santos Simoes Oliveira (Por) Lampre-MeridaRow 121 - Cell 2
123Thomas Peterson (USA) Team Giant-ShimanoRow 122 - Cell 2
124Benat Intxausti Elorriaga (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 123 - Cell 2
125Antonio Piedra Perez (Spa) Caja Rural - Seguros RGARow 124 - Cell 2
126Dmitriy Kozonchuk (Rus) Team KatushaRow 125 - Cell 2
127Xabier Zandio Echaide (Spa) Team Sky0:04:30
128Jens Voigt (Ger) Trek Factory Racing0:05:56
129Bob Jungels (Lux) Trek Factory RacingRow 128 - Cell 2
130Omar Fraile Matarranza (Spa) Caja Rural - Seguros RGARow 129 - Cell 2
131Bruno Pires (Por) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 130 - Cell 2
132Sergio Miguel Moreira Paulinho (Por) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 131 - Cell 2
133Jesper Hansen (Den) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 132 - Cell 2
134Jesus Hernandez Blazquez (Spa) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 133 - Cell 2
135Alberto Bettiol (Ita) CannondaleRow 134 - Cell 2
136Joshua Edmondson (GBr) Team SkyRow 135 - Cell 2
137Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Team SkyRow 136 - Cell 2
138Darwin Atapuma Hurtado (Col) BMC Racing TeamRow 137 - Cell 2
139Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:07:38
140Jack Bobridge (Aus) Belkin-Pro Cycling Team0:08:37
141Danny Pate (USA) Team SkyRow 140 - Cell 2
142Ruben Fernandez (Spa) Caja Rural - Seguros RGA0:09:52
143Peter Kennaugh (GBr) Team Sky0:12:05
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Mountain 1
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Benat Intxausti Elorriaga (Spa) Movistar Team6pts
2Alexis Vuillermoz (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale4Row 1 - Cell 3
3Matteo Montaguti (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale2Row 2 - Cell 3
4Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Tinkoff-Saxo1Row 3 - Cell 3
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Mountain 2
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Ruben Fernandez (Spa) Caja Rural - Seguros RGA6pts
2Davide Villella (Ita) Cannondale4Row 1 - Cell 3
3Damiano Caruso (Ita) Cannondale2Row 2 - Cell 3
4Christian Meier (Can) Orica GreenEdge1Row 3 - Cell 3
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Mountain 3
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Davide Villella (Ita) Cannondale3pts
2Jean Marc Marino (Fra) Cannondale2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Joshua Edmondson (GBr) Team Sky1Row 2 - Cell 3
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Mountain 4
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Jan Bakelants (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team3pts
2Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Gorka Izaguirre Insausti (Spa) Movistar Team1Row 2 - Cell 3
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Sprint 1
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Ruben Fernandez (Spa) Caja Rural - Seguros RGA3pts
2Fabricio Ferrari Barcelo (Uru) Caja Rural - Seguros RGA2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Omar Fraile Matarranza (Spa) Caja Rural - Seguros RGA1Row 2 - Cell 3
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Sprint 2
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Ruben Fernandez (Spa) Caja Rural - Seguros RGA3pts
2Omar Fraile Matarranza (Spa) Caja Rural - Seguros RGA2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Peter Kennaugh (GBr) Team Sky1Row 2 - Cell 3
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Sprint 3
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Omar Fraile Matarranza (Spa) Caja Rural - Seguros RGA3pts
2Romain Sicard (Fra) Team Europcar2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Natnael Berhane (Eri) Team Europcar1Row 2 - Cell 3
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Points
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica GreenEdge25pts
2Kévin Reza (Fra) Team Europcar20Row 1 - Cell 3
3Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team16Row 2 - Cell 3
4Ben Swift (GBr) Team Sky14Row 3 - Cell 3
5Paul Martens (Ger) Belkin-Pro Cycling Team12Row 4 - Cell 3
6Yukiya Arashiro (Jpn) Team Europcar10Row 5 - Cell 3
7Daniele Ratto (Ita) Cannondale9Row 6 - Cell 3
8Maxim Iglinskiy (Kaz) Astana Pro Team8Row 7 - Cell 3
9Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Astana Pro Team7Row 8 - Cell 3
10Tosh Van Der Sande (Bel) Lotto Belisol6Row 9 - Cell 3
11Damiano Caruso (Ita) Cannondale5Row 10 - Cell 3
12Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Garmin Sharp4Row 11 - Cell 3
13Jan Polanc (Slo) Lampre-Merida3Row 12 - Cell 3
14Arnold Jeannesson (Fra) FDJ.fr2Row 13 - Cell 3
15Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing Team1Row 14 - Cell 3
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Teams
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Orica GreenEdge15:06:27
2Omega Pharma - Quick-StepRow 1 - Cell 2
3Astana Pro TeamRow 2 - Cell 2
4Garmin - SharpRow 3 - Cell 2
5Team Giant - ShimanoRow 4 - Cell 2
6Team EuropcarRow 5 - Cell 2
7BMC Racing TeamRow 6 - Cell 2
8Cannondale Pro Cycling TeamRow 7 - Cell 2
9Lotto BelisolRow 8 - Cell 2
10Ag2r La MondialeRow 9 - Cell 2
11Belkin Pro Cycling TeamRow 10 - Cell 2
12Lampre - MeridaRow 11 - Cell 2
13Movistar TeamRow 12 - Cell 2
14Team SkyRow 13 - Cell 2
15Tinkoff-SaxoRow 14 - Cell 2
16Katusha TeamRow 15 - Cell 2
17Equipe Cycliste FDJ.frRow 16 - Cell 2
18Caja Rural - Seguros RGARow 17 - Cell 2
19Trek Facktory RacingRow 18 - Cell 2
Swipe to scroll horizontally
General classification after stage 3
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Tinkoff-Saxo12:54:03
2Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team0:00:14
3Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team0:00:34
4Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Merida0:00:36
5Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing TeamRow 4 - Cell 2
6Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 5 - Cell 2
7Iurii Trofimov (Rus) Team KatushaRow 6 - Cell 2
8Mikel Nieve Ituralde (Spa) Team SkyRow 7 - Cell 2
9Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Tinkoff-Saxo0:00:54
10Mikel Landa Meana (Spa) Astana Pro TeamRow 9 - Cell 2
11Yukiya Arashiro (Jpn) Team Europcar0:00:56
12Tom Jelte Slagter (Ned) Garmin SharpRow 11 - Cell 2
13Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ.fr