Tour of the Basque Country 2017: David de la Cruz solos to victory and leaders jersey

Stage 3 in the Tour of the Basque Country travels to San Sebastián on a route with six climbs. On the last one David de la Cruz goes on the attack and he holds off the pack in the ensuing 10 kilometres descent. Victory and leaders jersey for the Spaniard. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 3rd stage Tour of the Basque Country

1. David de la Cruz (spa)
2. Michal Kwiatkowski (pol) + 0.03
3. Jay McCarthy (aus) s.t.
4. Alejandro Valverde (spa) s.t.
5. Giovanni Visconti (ita) s.t.
6. Rudy Molard (fra) s.t.
7. Diego Ulissi (ita) s.t.
8. Patrick Konrad (aut) s.t.
9. Tosh Van der Sande (bel) s.t.
10. Warren Barguil (fra) s.t.

GC after stage 3
1. David de la Cruz (spa)
2. Jay McCarthy (aus) + 0.03
3. Alejandro Valverde (spa) s.t.
4. Michal Kwiatkowski (pol)
5. Patrick Konrad (aut) s.t.
6. Rudy Molard (fra) s.t.
7. Tosh Van der Sande (bel) s.t.
8. Luis Leon Sánchez (spa) s.t.
9. Romain Bardet (fra) s.t.
10. Ruben Fernandez (spa) s.t.

Race report
Despite a lot of movement in the beginning of the race it takes a while for a break to take shape. Just before hitting the first climb De Marchi, Rossetto, Montaguiti, Fuglsang, Pardilla and Courteille set off, while Nibali (Antonio), Howes and Capecchi bridge over. Montaguti is the first to crest Udana ahead of Rossetto and De Marchi.

On the next climb, Mandubia, Howes pockets most KOM-point, Rossetto is second and Pardilla third. Same order of passage on the top of the Santa Ageda.

While climbing the Alkiza the peloton starts closing in on the front group. Fuglsang, Courteille, Montaguti and De Marchi are the last men standing on the top, 1 minute ahead of the chasing peloton, while De Marchi and Fuglsang are the only leaders on the next peak, Andazaratte. Yet, with 22 kms remaining the break is history.

On the Mendizorrotz goes David de la Cruz on the attack, while leader Michael Matthews is dropped from the main group. When cresting De la Cruz is 11 seconds ahead of the pack and half a minute ahead of Matthews.

In the drop the Spaniard holds off the chasing peloton and he soloes to victory with a 3 seconds lead. This makes him the new leader.

Read about the route of the 3rd stage in the 2017 Tour of the Basque Country.