Volta a Catalunya 2016: Dan Martin powers to victory at stage 3’s top finish

Results stage 3 Volta a Catalunya

1. Daniel Martin (irl)
2. Alberto Contador (spa) + 0.02
3. Romain Bardet (fra) s.t.
4. Tejay van Garderen (usa) s.t.
5. Richie Porte (aus) + 0.09
6. Nairo Quintana (col) s.t.
7. Davide Formolo (ita) + 0.11
8. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) + 0.12
9. Chris Froome (gbr) s.t.
10. Hugh Carty (gbr) + 0.18
11. Rigoberto Uran (col) s.t.

GC after stage 3
1. Daniel Martin (irl)
2. Alberto Contador (spa) + 0.06
3. Romain Bardet (fra) + 0.08
4. Tejay van Garderen (usa) + 0.12
5. Richie Porte (aus) + 0.19
6. Nairo Quintana (col) s.t.
7. Davide Formolo (ita) + 0.21
8. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) + 0.22
9. Chris Froome (gbr) s.t.
10. Hugh Carty (gbr) + 0.28
11. Rigoberto Uran (col) s.t.

Race report
Van Zyl, Reza, Alaphilippe, Bouwman and Hirt escape after 10 kms, while Duyn and Howes bridge the gap. The six race to a maximum lead at 12 minutes in less than an hour.

Duyn is the first to crest Alt de Coubet. Leader Bouhanni is dropped at the lower slopes and abandons a little later. At the next climb, Alt de Tosses, Tom Dumoulin calls it quits. His compatriot Duyn is the first to crest and along with Howes he plunges down.

Pieter Weening joins the two leaders at the first climb to La Molina. Almost without respite he leaves them alone and now he is the first to crest. After the drop the climb to Molina looms once more.

With 10 kms left Louis Vervaeke opens the chase. He gobbles up Weening but in his turn he is gobbled up by the stellar pack with 5 kms to go. An intermediate drop takes the riders to the final 2 kms and it’s there trhe race explodes. Poels is the first to attack. Then Porte, then Quintana. But it’s Dan Martin who really makes a difference when he attacks in the last 500 metres. All big names in Catalunya try to close the gap, but to no avail. The Irishman climbs to glory and takes the leaders jersey while he is at it.

Volta a Catalunya 2016 stage 3: Route maps, height profiles, etc.

Click on the images to zoom

All stages

Route and profile

Profile 3rd stage

Route 3rd stage

Start in Girona

Final kilometres

All profiles

Finish in La Molina

Start and finish at Google Maps

Volta a Catalunya Tweets