Dan Martin times it right to win stage three of Volta a Catalunya and take race lead
Dan Martin storms past Nairo Quintana to win stage three of the Volta a Catalunya and move into the overall race lead
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

Dan Martin (Etixx-Quick Step) took his second win of the season, timing his attack on La Molina just right to hold off the stellar list of climbers at the Volta a Catalunya.
The Irish rider shot past the attacking Nairo Quintana (Movistar) with around 200m to go and built up a big enough gap to see off the likes of Alberto Contador and Romain Bardet.
The majority of the action was saved for the final climb of the day to the ski resort of La Molina, where Pieter Weening (Roompot-Oranje Peloton) rode alone off the front.
Louis Vervaeke (Lotto-Soudal) passed Weening at the 8km to go mark, but his attack never looked likely to last and the peloton led by Team Sky passed him with 4km left.
With an elite group at the front several attacks were laid down by the sport's best climbers. Contador had a short dig, followed by Quintana and then Richie Porte.
Quintana had a final go but Martin surged past him on the steepest part of the climb and held his lead to the finish.
With two wins in 2016, Martin now has the same number of victories as he accumulated with the Garmin team in the previous two years.
Nacer Bouhanni, who wore the leader's jersey after winning the first two stages, abandoned the race on stage three, as did Giant-Alpecin's Tom Dumoulin.
Volta a Catalunya stage three, Girona - La Molina (172km)
1. Dan Martin (Ire) Etixx-Quick Step, 5-00-27
2. Alberto Contador (Esp) Tinkoff, st
3. Romain Bardet (Fra) Ag2r La Mondiale, st
4. Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC, st
5. Richie Porte (Aus) BMC, at 9s
6. Davide Formolo (Ita) Cannondale, at 11s
7. Ilnur Zakarin (Rus) Katusha, at 12s
8. Chris Froome (GBr) Team Sky, st
9. Hugh Carthy (GBr) Caja Rural, at 18s
10. Rigoberto Uran (Col) Cannondale, st
Overall standings after stage three
1. Dan Martin (Ire) Etixx-Quick Step, 14-08-18
2. Alberto Contador (Esp) Tinkoff, at 6s
3. Romain Bardet (Fra) Ag2r La Mondiale, at 8s
4. Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC, at 12s
5. Richie Porte (Aus) BMC, at 19s
6. Davide Formolo (Ita) Cannondale, at 21s
7 Chris Froome (GBr) Team Sky, at 22s
8. Ilnur Zakarin (Rus) Katusha, st
9. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky, at 28s
10. Rigoberto Uran (Col) Cannondale, st
Thank you for reading 10 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
Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.
-
-
Watch: Canyon unveils a very Miami Canyon Aeroad CFR, custom-made for the Blazers
Bicycle manufacturer, Canyon Bicycles, today unveiled a Miami Blazers’ custom Canyon Aeroad CFR, meant to serve as a visual representation of Miami’s vibrant culture
By Anne-Marije Rook • Published
-
'The darkest day in British cycling' - British riders mourn loss of AT85 Pro Cycling
Matt Bostock says Tim Elverson run squad ‘gave him confidence’ to take next step in his career, Alex Richardson says British Scene has lost ‘a platform’ for young riders to develop
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
CW Live: Olympic champion joins Women's WorldTour; Tom Pidcock tips Van Aert for Cyclo-cross Worlds; Arkéa-Samsic boss 'very interested' in Julian Alaphilippe; Deadline for 2024 Olympics tickets; LEJOG record holder back cycling after hit-and-run
A round-up of all the latest cycling news
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
UCI revises points system to give more weighting to Grand Tours and Monuments
Cycling's governing body publishes major changes to its points scale for the coming three-year cycle
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
UCI finalises team licences for 2023, B&B Hôtels miss out
The French team drops off the ProTour from next season, while Fenix-Deceuninck claims the final Women's WorldTour spot
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Teams target up to four races a day in relegation points scramble
For Lotto-Soudal and Cofidis, the racing is only just beginning
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl release 2022 kit from new partners Castelli
The Italian clothing brand will make the Belgian team's kit until at least 2024
By Adam Becket • Published
-
WorldTour riders still yet to confirm a contract for 2022
Some riders have yet to put pen to paper for the 2022 season and have almost run out of time to impress
By Adam Becket • Last updated
-
Patrick Lefevere says Vuelta a España suits Evenepoel but doesn't want him given favourite status
The young Belgian abandoned the Giro d'Italia in 2021 after 18 stages
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
Mauri Vansevenant and Rémi Cavagna recovering after car hit them at training camp
The French road race champion suffered a fractured L1 vertebrae with the Belgian breaking his thumb
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published