Tour of Valencia 2026: August claims victory from late attack, Girmay still leader

foto: Cor VosFour escapees go clear shortly after the final climb. Florian Vermeersch, Andrew August, Ådne Holter and Jonathan Vervenne hold off the chasing peloton, and it is 20-year-old American who takes the win in Sant Vicent del Raspeig. Biniam Girmay keeps the leader’s jersey. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 3rd stage 2026 Tour of Valencia

1. Andrew August (usa) 3:20:54
2. Ådne Holter (nor) s.t.
3. Florian Vermeersch (bel) s.t.
4. Jonathan Vervenne (bel) + 0:02
5. Biniam Girmay (eri) + 0:04
6. Ben Turner (gbr) s.t.
7. Magnus Cort (den) s.t.
8. Mathias Vacek (cze) s.t.
9. Mirco Maestri (ita) s.t.
10. Aleksandr Vlasov (rus) s.t.

GC after stage 3
1. Biniam Girmay (eri)
2. Arne Marit (bel) + 0:04
3. Giovanni Leonardi (ita) + 0:06
4. Mats Wenzel (lux) s.t.
5. Diego Pablo Sevilla (spa) s.t.
6. Danny van der Tuuk (nld) + 0:07
7. Remco Evenepoel (bel) + 0:09
8. Carl-Frederik Bévort (den) s.t.
9. Aleksandr Vlasov (rus) s.t.
10. Alberto Bruttomesso (ita) s.t.

Race report
During the opening hour, the riders cover 52 kilometres, and the fast pace makes it hard to get clear, but eventually five riders manage to get clear. King of the Mountains Danny van der Tuuk builds a 2-minute advantage with Rául García Pierna, Mattia Bais, Pablo García and Diego Uriarte, before Matteo Fabbro, Vojtech Kminek and José Antonio Piret De Luna make it an eight-men breakaway.

For a long stretch, they maintain a gap of about 3 minutes on the peloton, but it goes down fast on the Puerto de Tibi. At the top, the advantage has shrunk to less than a minute. Uriarte, Prieto and Kminek are no longer in contention, while Van der Tuuk passes the summit in second place to successfully defend his mountain jersey.

On the day’s second and final ascent, García Pierna and Bais are the only riders left out front. The peloton catches the pair with 28 kilometres remaining.

In a phase marked by several attacks, Florian Vermeersch and Andrew August manage to slip away, after which Ådne Holter the first to track them down, shortly followed by Jonathan Vervenne.

The four reach a maximum lead of 25 seconds. It dwindles in the closing stages, but just enough remains for them to contest a four-up sprint.

Vervenne launches way too early and blow his chances. August, the only rider in the break not contributing to the pace, proves freshest in the final 250 metres and takes the victory. Biniam Girmay wins the peloton sprint 4 seconds later to retain the yellow jersey.

Another interesting read: route 3rd stage 2026 Tour of Valencia.