Olympic champion Samuel Sanchez gave his Euskaltel Euskadi sponsors reason to celebrate with a stage win in what is their home race, the Vuelta al Pais Vasco. The Spanish rider was part of a three-man break which went clear on the final climb, the first category Alto de Usartza then, after a short descent, proved quickest in the sprint.
He jumped early and was able to hold off Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) and the veteran American Chris Horner (RadioShack Nissan) to the line.
Bauke Mollema (Rabobank), Damiano Cunego (Lampre ISD) and world time trial champion Tony Martin (Omega Pharma Quick Step) led in a chase group twelve seconds later.
“I am very happy. For me, this is something special,” said a content Sanchez at the finish. It was his second win of the season, following his stage victory in the recent Volta a Catalunya.
Despite finishing second, Rodriguez said that he was pleased by his own performance. “Maybe in the last straight I missed a little of energy and grit, but Sanchez knows this course by heart so it was very hard to defeat him,” he explained. “Anyway, in this part of the season, the most important thing is to improve for the upcoming Classic races and for 'Giro d'Italia'. I'm still not 100%, but I'm reaching my top day by day.”
He added that his satisfaction with his progression is also tinged with a bit of disappointment. Russian Cycling Federation president and head of the Russian Global Cycling Project [the owners of the Katusha team] Igor Makarov is 50 tomorrow. “ I would have liked to dedicate a victory to him: it's thanks to him if the team exists and it's one of the best World Tour teams, so he really deserves it,” he said. He noted that there was another mountain stage tomorrow, and that it would provide another opportunity.
Overnight leader Jose Joaquin Rojas (Movistar) was dropped on the sixth of the day’s seven climbs, and trailed in a long way down. The yellow jersey passed to Sanchez, who will attempt to extend his lead over dangerous riders like Horner and Martin before the final time trial.
The American rider is now second overall, with Rodriguez also level on time with Sanchez. Canada’s Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin Barracuda) is best of the rest in fourth, twelve seconds down.
Blow by blow:
The third stage of the Vuelta al Pais Vasco was considerably tougher than the preceding two, with no less than seven climbs lurking along the parcours for the 164 kilometre race from Vitoria Gasteiz to Santuario Arrate (Eibar).
The first could come after 34.6 kilometres, namely the Alto Krutzeta. Two other second category climbs would follow this, the Alto de Asentzio (km 62.6) and the Alto Karabieta (km 92.5). The third category Alto de Miñota was next on the agenda, prior to three tough climbs in the finale.
The first category Alto de Ixua was situated 132.2 kilometres after the start, after which the second category peak of the Alto de San Miguel (km 142.7) was positioned. The final climb, the Alto de Usartza, topped out at kilometre 162.6, leaving just a short 1.4 kilometre drop down to the finish line.
After a stream of attacks, Jussi Veikkanen (FDJ-BigMat) and Mads Christensen (Saxo Bank) succeeded in opening a gap twenty kilometres after the start. They were chased and soon joined by Jose Herrada Lopez (Movistar Team), Antonio Piedra Perez (Caja Rural) and Davide Mucelli (Utensilnord).
By the top of that first climb, the Krutzeta (km 34.6), Christiansen picked up top points ahead of Herrada. The quintet had built a three minute lead after 50 kilometres of racing, and this increased to four minutes by the summit of the Alto de Ascentzio (km 62.6), where Herrida and Christensen pushed ahead of the others.
By kilometre 87, the two leaders started the Alto Karabieta (km 92.5) three minutes ahead of their former breakaway companions, and six minutes up on the peloton. Herrada had started the day two minutes 14 seconds back and was race leader on the road.
His chances of staying clear got a boost when Veikkanen got a second wind and dropped the two other chasers. He rode hard alone for some time and then, with 60 kilometres remaining, managed to get back to the front. At that point in time, Piedra and Mucelli were one minute 40 seconds back, with the peloton a further two minutes behind. It was three against the bunch.
Reshuffling of leaders prior to final battle:
Deciding it was time to get things under control, the pursuit was led by various teams and they managed to catch the two chasers 43 kilometres from the end. Five kilometers later, the leaders began the first category Alto de Ixua and soon afterwards, Herrada pushed on alone of his wearying compations.
Back in the bunch, Alberto Losada (Katusha) attacked alone, softening things up for a subsequent move by his team-mates Angel Vicioso and Giampaolo Caruso. Their effort began 35 kilometres from the line and they went over the summit one minute 15 seconds back. The peloton was a further six seconds behind, but losing ground.
Vicioso and Caruso were determined to get to the front of things and with 23 kilometres remaining, they were just 40 seconds behind Herrada. The peloton was one minute 15 seconds down.
The second category climb of San Miguel started almost immediately and the chasing duo continued to close in on Herrada there.
The Movistar rider wasn’t going to make it easy for them and fought to stay clear. He went over the top of the climb, twenty kilometres from the finish line, with a gap of fifteen seconds over the Katusha duo. Euskaltel Euskadi was driving the peloton on, but was still 45 seconds back.
The two chasers finally got across to the leader eighteen kilometres from the line and, being fresher, immediately started doing the work. With eight kilometres remaining the gap was down to twenty seconds, and soon afterwards Herrada cracked.
The two Katusha competitors did everything they could to stay clear, but it was impossible; the peloton drew closer and closer, and finally reeled them in 5.6 kilometres from the finish.
Team leaders slug it out:
Chris Horner (RadioShack Nissan) was feeling good and attacked very soon afterwards. The move was covered by Robert Kiserlovski (Astana), but behind the bunch was still grouped together and it was clear the hammer wasn’t yet down.
Soon after Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) led the others back to them, as did Michele Scarponi (Lampre ISD). With 4.4 kilometres to go Rodriguez launched a probing attack; Horner was quick to respond, while behind the elastic started to snap and gaps opened.
Damiano Cunego (Lampre ISD) initially led the chase but didn’t have the firepower. Olympic champion Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel Euskadi) had more in the tank and clipped clear, bridging the gap 3.8 kilometres from the finish.
Pedalling through large crowds of vocal Basque fans, they climbed towards the summit. The cooperation initially wasn’t perfect, though, and chasers such as Damiano Cunego (Lampre ISD) and Tony Martin (Omega Pharma Quick Step) were riding strongly in pursuit. They almost got up to the leaders, then Horner accelerated over the top of the climb and drew the other two clear again before the start of the descent.
That acceleration unified the leaders, who had a lead of several seconds going under the kite. Rodriguez was frustrated by Sanchez, knowing he was likely to be fast in the sprint and feeling he hadn’t done his share. He started gesturing for the Olympic champion to come through prior to settling things for the stage victory.
Horner was more interested in the general classification, though, and he quickly moved through to keep the momentum going. Sanchez followed, then jumped hard and opened a gap over the other two. Rodriguez drove hard to try to get him back, but was unable to do so before the flag.
He and Horner were second and third, while Bauke Mollema (Rabobank), Damiano Cunego (Lampre ISD) and world time trial champion Tony Martin (Omega Pharma Quick Step) led home the chase group a dozen seconds later.
Tomorrow sees the riders tackle the second big mountain stage, concluding with a summit finish atop the first category Bera-Ibardin. Sanchez will see this as his chance to build a buffer over the time trial specialists such as Martin, who could steal the yellow jersey on Saturday’s final race against the clock.
However Horner will also be a concern as when he is in top form, he is quick in such solo efforts.