The riders will be circling Girona. The first round is the widest and offers two 3rd category climbs. The Alt de Romanya is 2.6 kilometres at 3.4% wth a steepst section at 6%. Sixteen kilometres up the road Alt de la Ganga lay waiting – 3.7 kilometres at 4% with a max grade of 6%.
In the last part of the first round, the 1st category climb up Alt des Angles is looming for the first time. When cresting after a 6 kilometres uphill toil there are still 74 kilometres left to race. The ascent, which will be crested again with 13 kilometers left, goes up by an average of 5% and the steepest section offers a 8% grade.
The final round brings the Alto de Santa Pellaia, a climb starting in the village of Cassa de la Selva. Length – 5.9 kilometres, average gradient – 4%, steepest section – 6%. Once atop the riders have 37.6 kilometres left to race and, as said, after 24 kilometres they peak the Alt des Angles for the second time. Following a long drop the finale offers a vitriolic last hurdle.
Last year Luka Mezgec outsprinted the bunch in Girona. But it’s not always a flat route leading there. Today’s finale brings a copy of the 2012 stage Girona-Girona, that also featured Alt dels Angles with 13 kilometres left. Michael Albasini took the stage-win and went on to win the overall that year.
Here you’ll find both the results and the race report.
Volta a Catalunya 2015 stage 3: Route/profile and more
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