Mikel Landa stamps authority on Vuelta a Burgos with stage three win
Sky's Mikel Landa takes his second stage victory of the 2017 Vuelta a Burgos to extend his overall race lead with two stages remaining
Mikel Landa (Team Sky) took his second victory of the 2017 Vuelta a Burgos on Thursday, looking in a league of his own on the summit finish of stage three.
The 27-year-old Spaniard out-paced fellow attacker David de la Cruz (Quick-Step Floors) on the steep final climb of Picón Blanco to extend his overall race lead, having already won the opening stage.
Enric Mas (Quick-Step Floors) came in for third place at 41 seconds.
Landa now leads de la Cruz by 27 seconds overall, with Mas in third at 46 seconds.
Ten riders formed a break just after the start in Ojo Guareña: Dorian Godon (Cofidis), Bernardo Suaza (Manzana Postobon), Lasse Norman Hansen (Acqua Blue Sport), Fabien Grellier (Direct Energie), Janse Van Rensburg (Dimension Data), Fabricio Ferrari (Caja Rural), Gatis Smukulis (Delko Marseille Provence KTM), Jorge Cubero (Burgos), Martijn Budding (Roompot Nederlandse Loterij) and Pieter Serry (Quick-Step Floors).
Over the day's almost relentless selection of classified climbs and rolling terrain, the break was enduring a tough day. Smukulis was evidently the strongest, and went solo after the Alto de Ailanes opening up a gap on his former companions.
Smukulis had just over two minutes ahead of the Sky-led peloton as he hit 10km to go. However, he had his work cut out for him facing the final climb of 8.5km at an average of 9.1 per cent, but with sections of over 11 per cent.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
>>> Matteo Trentin wins Vuelta a Burgos stage two as Landa retains overall lead
By the foot of the climb two kilometres later, Smukulis was fading, and the gap was down to under a minute. He was caught with 6.3km to go, and swung over at the side of the road at a virtual standstill as the peloton passed him.
Sky continued to set the speed of the bunch, but it proved to be too much for the majority. With 4km to go, there were just four riders accompanying Sky's Gianni Moscon and Landa. Quick-Step also had two riders: Mas and de la Cruz, plus Jaime Rosón (Caja Rural) and Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana).
Mas attacked inside 4km, forcing Moscon to waste energy in trying to chase. All the while, Landa sat on his team-mate's wheel, biding his time.
Moscon swung off with 3.2km to go, leaving Landa to quickly chase down Mas and drag the others up to him. De la Cruz attacked almost immediately when the catch was made, followed by Landa – leaving Rosón, Lopez and Mas behind.
Landa and de la Cruz continued riding ahead of the three chasers and it became obvious that the stage win was going to be contested between the two riders. However, there was to be no gift to de la Cruz, as Landa accelerated away from him in the final 500 metres to take his second stage win of the race.
The 2017 Vuelta a Burgos continues on Friday with the race's flattest stage, a 147-kilometre trip from Bodegas Nabal to Clunia. The day may not be one for the sprinters, though, as there is a short, steep kick up to the line. The UCI 2.HC-ranked race concludes on Saturday, August 5.
Result
Vuelta a Burgos 2017, stage three: Ojo Guareña to Picón Blanco, 173km
1. Mikel Landa (Esp) Team Sky, in 4-36-40
2. David de la Cruz (Esp) Quick-Step Floors, at 9 secs
3. Enric Mas (Esp) Quick-Step Floors, at 41 secs
4. Jaime Rosón (Esp) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, at 47 secs
5. Miguel Ángel López (Col) Astana, at 55 secs
6. Igor Anton (Esp) Dimension Data, at 1-06
7. Merhawi Kudus (Eri) Dimension Data, at 1-24
8. Gianni Moscon (Ita) Team Sky, at 1-27
9. Jetse Bol (Ned) Manzana Postobon, at 1-33
10. Sergio Pardilla (Esp) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, at 1-34
General classification after stage three
1. Mikel Landa (Esp) Team Sky, in 11-41-32
2. David de la Cruz (Esp) Quick-Step Floors, at 27 secs
3. Enric Mas (Esp) Quick-Step Floors, at 46 secs
4. Jaime Rosón (Esp) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, at 54 secs
5. Miguel Ángel López (Col) Astana, at 1-02
6. Igor Anton (Esp) Dimension Data, at 1-13
7. Merhawi Kudus (Eri) Dimension Data, at 1-31
8. Gianni Moscon (Ita) Team Sky, at 1-34
9. Jetse Bol (Ned) Manzana Postobon, at 1-40
10. Sergey Chernetskiy (Rus) Astana, at 1-42
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Nigel Wynn worked as associate editor on CyclingWeekly.com, he worked almost single-handedly on the Cycling Weekly website in its early days. His passion for cycling, his writing and his creativity, as well as his hard work and dedication, were the original driving force behind the website’s success. Without him, CyclingWeekly.com would certainly not exist on the size and scale that it enjoys today. Nigel sadly passed away, following a brave battle with a cancer-related illness, in 2018. He was a highly valued colleague, and more importantly, an exceptional person to work with - his presence is sorely missed.
-
Undercover Mechanic: Contrary to popular belief, the bike industry is not collapsing - but disinformation is rife
The overstocking amid the Covid spike is problematic, but some businesses are thriving, argues our insider
By Undercover Mechanic Published
-
You need to ride easy to get faster - and that might be easier than 'Zone 2', here's why
It's ell known that easy riding is the bedrock of endurance, but what exactly do we mean by ‘easy’? Charlie Allenby seeks clarification
By Charlie Allenby Published
-
'It was time to change': No regrets for Rod Ellingworth after leaving Ineos Grenadiers
New Tour of Britain race director says he is still on good terms with Dave Brailsford after resigning from team last year
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I’m just here to enjoy it': Tom Pidcock on his surprise Paris-Roubaix appearance
British rider was a late addition to the Ineos Grenadiers team for the race across the pavé
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Mikel Landa the latest to break collarbone at Itzulia Basque Country
The Spaniard follows his team leader Remco Evenepoel in having to leave the stage race
By Adam Becket Published
-
The art of peaking with Geraint Thomas: 'It’s easy to take for granted that 9 times out of 10 I hit my goals'
The Welshman also calls for better governance in the sport to help it grow further
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers’ 500th victory was claimed by a woman; why do they still not have a team?
The British squad is one of the richest in cycling - but Ineos still won’t stump up for a women’s team
By Adam Becket Published
-
'This is so much more than a number': Six of the best Ineos Grenadiers wins as team claims 500th race victory
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot took the 500th team win at the weekend
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock 'wouldn’t be surprised' to see attacks before the Poggio at Milan-San Remo
British rider will lead the line for Ineos Grenadiers alongside Filippo Ganna
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers delighted with Egan Bernal’s late cameo on stage one of Paris-Nice
Colombian snapped up key bonus seconds in the general classification battle on run in to Les Mureaux
By Tom Thewlis Published