Vuelta 2019: Bennett sprints to victory, Roche retains El Rojo

The 3rd stage of La Vuelta runs on rolling terrain to a sprint finish in Alicante. Sam Bennett outguns Edward Theuns and Luka Mezgec. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 3rd stage Vuelta a España 2019

1. Sam Bennett (irl)
2. Edward Theuns (bel) s.t.
3. Luka Mezgec (slo) s.t.
4. Jon Aberasturi (spa) s.t.
5. Phil Bauhaus (ger) s.t.
6. Maximiliano Richeze (arg) s.t.
7. Fabio Jakobsen (nld) s.t.
8. Cyril Barthe (fra) s.t.
9. Szymon Sajnok (pol) s.t.
10. Clément Venturini (fra) s.t.

GC after stage 3
1. Nicolas Roche (irl)
2. Nairo Quintana (col) + 0.02
3. Rigoberto Uran (col) + 0.08
4. Mikel Nieve (spa) + 0.22
5. Miguel Ángel López (col) + 0.33
6. Primoz Roglic (slo) + 0.35
7. Sergio Higuita (col) + 0.37
8. Wilco Kelderman (nld) + 0.38
9. Davide Formolo (ita) + 0.46
10. Rafal Majka (pol) s.t.

12. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 0.49
14. Fabio Aru (ita) + 1.08
16. Pierre Latour (fra) + 1.10
17. George Bennett (nzl) + 1.13
23. Tadej Pogacar (slo) + 1.40
27. Daniel Félipe Martínez (col) + 1.46
28. Tejay van Garderen (usa) s.t.
29. Hugh Carthy (gbr) s.t.
37. Dylan Teuns (bel) + 2.05
44. Louis Meintjes (rsa) + 2.13
51. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) + 2.19

Race report
Three riders attack from the gun and the peloton agrees. KOM leader Angel Madrazo is on the road with his team-mate Diego Rubio and with Héctor Sáez. The trio opens up a gap of more than 6 minutes before the main group takes them on a leash.

Madrazo cements his KOM lead at the Puerto de Biar.

The lead has fallen to 30 seconds when Madrazo, Rubio and Sáez tackle the Puertro de Tibi. Thomas De Gendt goes after the three. Powless, Kuss, Soler and Howson join the Flemish attacker before the group brings them back. Madrazo goes solo, while Gaviria and Jakobsen are struggling at the back.

Guerreiro bridges across just before the summit, where Madrazo pockets three more mountain points. The two are brought back in the descent before Jakobsen also regains contact with the main group. Gaviria keeps chasing for a while with two team mates before he stops his efforts. Meanwhile, Roglic pockets 1 bonus second in the intermediate sprint.

Sam Bennett is in a class of his own in the streets of Alicante. The Irish champion outguns Edward Theuns and Luka Mezgec, while Nicolas Roche stays in the GC lead.

Another interesting read: route 3rd stage 2019 Vuelta.