Francisco Ventoso (Movistar) managed to go one better than his second place of yesterday to take the third stage of the Vuelta a Andalucia/Ruta Del Sol between Otura and Jaen. The Spanish sprinter beat Juan Jose Lobato (Andalucia-Caja Granada) into second place and Davide Appollonio (Team Sky) into second and third on the uphill finishing straight at the end of the 175km stage.
“The sweet-and-sour taste from yesterday has become superb today,” said Ventoso after his victory. “Every sprint is a different story, and I knew that the important thing was having good legs at the end. I got into the wind too soon yesterday, then I had to stop and I lacked some speed at the end. It was the other way round today.
The group slowed a bit with 300 metres left, but I was coming fast from behind and took a long sprint, especially if you think that the finish was uphill. It was too hard for me at the end, but even after that I won with a good gap, and above all I could enjoy the victory. It's been really beautiful.”
Along with his victory in stage 5 of the Santos Tour Down Under, Ventoso has finished second on two occasions recently: on stage two of this race, and in the Trofeo Mallorca a little over two weeks ago; both defeats have spurred him on further.
“There's little difference between being first and second,” he said, “but both feel so different. I had come second twice this year while I was feeling myself as winner in both, and I was pissed off not being able to take it to fruition, especially for my teammates. That's why winning today is so important for me. It's the best way to give back the confidence they had on me since the very first moment.
“Since I came to the team, I have felt really part of it, and that's why every single success goes for them. People said we were lacking some big names, but we're showing this block is impressive, and that sometimes, the strength of a group gives better results."
There were constant attacks in the first two hours of racing before a group of four riders finally got away. Between them Victor Cabedo (Orbea), Chente García Acosta (Movistar Team), Antonio Piedra (Andalucía-Caja Granada) and Aitor Galdos (Caja Rural) managed to build a lead of almost 5 minutes, but they were steadily reeled back again by the peloton.
Most of the work was done by the RadioShack team, of race leader Markel Irizar, and the Rabobank team of three-time World champion Oscar Freire, and the leading quartet was finally caught with 10km to go.
Freire launched his sprint but it was too early on the windy uphill straight and he faded quickly. Ventoso timed his move just right and held on to take his second win of the season.
Irizar finished safely in the peloton and so holds on to his leader’s jersey, a single second ahead of Jurgen Van Den Broeck (OmegaPharma-Lotto).
Result stage 3
1. Francisco Ventoso (Spa) Movistar
2. Juan Jose Lobato (Spa) Andalucia-Caja Granada
3. Davide Appollonio (Ita) Team Sky
4. Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Leopard Trek
5. Thierry Hupond (Fra) Skil-Shimano
6. Pello Bilbao (Spa) Orbea
7. Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
8. Ricardo Garcia (Spa) Orbea
9. Luis Pasamontes (Spa) Movistar
10. Yukihiro Doi (Jap) Skil-Shimano
Standings after stage 3
1. Markel Irizar (Spa) RadioShack
2. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) OmegaPharma-Lotto @ 1s
3. Levi Leipheimer (USA) RadioShack @ 2s
4. Jérôme Coppel (Fra) Saur-Sojasun @ 3s
5. Luis Pasamontes (Spa) Movistar @ 8s