Volta a Catalunya 2018 Stage 3: De Gendt solos to leaders jersey

Volta a Catalunya 2018 Stage 3: De Gendt solos to leader’s jersey

Due to harsh weather, the Volta a Catalunya's 3rd stage has been altered from a high altitude finish in Vallter 2000 to a false flat arrival in Camprodon. The route amounts to 153 kilometres and takes in two intermediate climbs. Thomas De Gendt solos to victory ahead of Simon Yates and Thibaut Pinot. Furthermore, the Flemish solo-specialist moves into the overall lead. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 3rd stage 2018 Volta a Catalunya

1. Thomas De Gendt (bel)
2. Simon Yates (gbr) + 0.20
3. Thibaut Pinot (fra) s.t.
4. Mathias Frank (swi) s.t.
5. Nairo Quintana (col) s.t.
6. Giovanni Visconti (ita) s.t.
7. Maximilian Schachmann (ger) s.t.
8. Egan Bernal (col) s.t.
9. Matej Mohoric (slo) s.t.
10. Bob Jungels (lux) s.t.

89. Esteban Chaves (col) + 1.59

GC after the 3rd stage
1. Thomas De Gendt (bel)
2. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 0.23
3. Daryl Impey (rsa) + 0.29
4. Simon Yates (gbr) s.t.
5. Thibaut Pinot (fra) + 0.31
6. Jay McCarthy (aus) + 0.33
7. Nairo Quintana (col) + 0.35
8. Matej Mohoric (slo) s.t.
9. Bob Jungels (lux) s.t.
10. Eduard Prades (spa) s.t.

Most other GC contenders at + 0.35

Race report
Attacks are flying after the start of the shortened 3rd stage, but it only sticks when Thomas De Gendt, Lluís Mas, Clément Chevrier, Pablo Torres and Mikel Bizkarra join forces. They race to a lead of almost 3 minutes.

When the front group tackles the Coll de Bracons the front group is leading the race with 2 minutes. De Gendt crests the summit solo and on descent Mas and Bizkarra rejoin him, yet before hitting the last climb – Port de Collabos – De Gendt once again heads out on his own. He takes the KOM points at the summit and is the new leader in the mountain classification. The peloton is 1’30” in arrears.

Marc Soler jumps clear with a number of GC guys on his wheel. Nairo Quintana, Thibaut Pinot, Simon Yates and Mathias Frank push on with four. On the false flat with headwind they don’t manage do bring De Gendt back. Instead, the chasing peloton catches them in the finale, although Simon Yates and Thibaut Pinot are fast enough to pocket time bonuses of 6 and 4 seconds.

Yet, the winner of the day is Thomas De Gendt. The strong Belgian wins solo and moves into the overall lead, 23 seconds ahead of Alejandro Valverde.

In the finale, Adam Yates crashes out of the Volta a Catalunya.