Tour of Valencia 2019: Van Avermaet wins hilly 3rd stage, leader Bo Hagen survives

The 3rd stage in the Tour of Valencia travels through the middle mountains. At the end of a race with six intermediate climbs Greg Van Avermaet powers to an impressive sprint victory. Edvald Boasson Hagen survives all vertical metres to retain in the lead. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 3rd stage 2019 Tour of Valencia

1. Greg Van Avermaet (bel)
2. Matteo Trentin (ita) s.t.
3. Luis León Sánchez (spa) s.t.
4. Alejandro Valverde (spa) s.t.
5. Mike Teunissen (nld) s.t.
6. Sergio Higuita (col) s.t.
7. Ben Swift (gbr) s.t.
8. Sonny Colbrelli (ita) s.t.
9. Ion Izagirre (spa) s.t.
10. Marco Canola (ita) s.t.

GC after 3rd stage

1. Edvald Boasson Hagen (nor)
2. Ion Izagirre (spa) + 0.05
3. Dylan Teuns (bel) + 0.08
4. Nelson Oliveira (por) + 0.11
5. Pello Bilbao (spa) + 0.12
6. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 0.14
7. Daniel Martin (irl) + 0.19
8. Diego Rosa (ita) + 0.20
9. Jack Haig (aus) + 0.23
10. Jesús Herrada (spa) + 0.24

Race report
Today’s breakaway features ten riders. Cyril Barthe, Fernando Barceló, Raúl Alarcón, Preben van Hecke, Mauricio Moreira, Diego Rubio, Julien Duvial, Awet Andemeskel, Diego Lopez and Alexey Kurbatov race to a maximum lead of 7 minutes.

At the penultimate climb, Sot de Chera, the gap has fallen below 1 minute. Only Van Hecke, Alarcón, Barthe and Barceló left, but they don’t make it either. They are reeled in with 7 kilometres remaining.

Ben Hermans counters an attack by Sergio Samitier with 5 kilometres left. Alessandro de Marchi rejoins him with Salvatore Puccio, but they are brought back ahead of the last summit, the Salto de la Mora.

In the streets of Chera Greg Van Avermaet launches his sprint early but with such power that no one is able to overtake him. Matteo Trentin is just happy to follow in his wheel, while Luis León Sánchez hangs on for third.

Leader Edvald Boasson Hagen finishes inside the front group, so he will still be wearing yellow in tomorrow’s Queen Stage.

Another interesting read: route 3rd stage 2019 Tour of Valencia.