Vuelta 2018 Stage 3: Viviani sprints to victory, Kwiatkowski still in red

The Vuelta a España's 3rd stage climbs from sea level to over 1,100 metres, yet the race boils down to a bunch sprint. Elia Viviani outguns Giacomo Nizzolo and Peter Sagan, while Michal Kwiatkowski retains the overall lead. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 3rd stage 2018 Vuelta a España

1. Elia Viviani (ita)
2. Giacomo Nizzolo (ita) s.t.
3. Peter Sagan (svk) s.t.
4. Nacer Bouhanni (fra) s.t.
5. Simone Consonni (ita) s.t.
6. Danny van Poppel (nld) s.t.
7. Michael Mørkøv (den) s.t.
8. Matteo Trentin (ita) s.t.
9. Ryan Gibbons (rsa) s.t.
10. Tom Van Asbroeck (bel) s.t.

138. Daniel Martin (irl) + 4.09

GC after the 3rd stage
1. Michal Kwiatkowski (pol)
2. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 0.14
3. Wilco Kelderman (nld) + 0.25
4. Laurens De Plus (bel) + 0.28
5. Ion Izagirre (spa) + 0.30
6. Fabio Felline (ita) s.t.
7. Emanuel Buchmann (ger) + 0.32
8. Tony Gallopin (fra) + 0.33
9. Nairo Quintana (col) + 0.33
10. Bauke Mollema (nld) + 0.35

11. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) + 0.37
12. Simon Yates (gbr) s.t.
14. Rafal Majka (pol) + 0.42
16. Thibaut Pinot (fra) + 0.43
17. George Bennett (nzl) + 0.45
18. Fabio Aru (ita) + 0.47
19. Rigoberto Uran (col) + 0.48
24. David de la Cruz (spa) + 0.53
25. Miguel Ángel López (col) + 0.54
34. Louis Meintjes (rsa) + 1.16
36. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) + 1.31
52. Richard Carapaz (ecu) + 2.36

Race report
Nans Peters, Pierre Rolland, Jordi Simón, Antonio Molina, Luis Ángel Maté and Héctor Sáez open up a gap early on, which they widen to almost 4 minutes at the crest of the Puerto del Madroño. Maté is the first rider over the summit, pocketing 10 points and cementing his KOM lead.

On the Puerto del Viento the gap falls to 2 minutes and Maté is once again the first rider to crest.

Rolland drops back to the peloton with 50 kms to go, while Victor Campenaerts, Jelle Wallays, Lukas Pöstlberger and Alexis Gougeard bridge across to the front group kms later. Wallays can’t follow the pace.

Campenaerts hits the deck 23 kms before the finish and a little later Pöstlberger heads out alone. The Austrian is reeled in with 6 kms remaining.

In the ensuing sprint it comes down to an Italian clash. National Champion Elia Viviani outpowers Giacomo Nizzolo, while Peter Sagan sprints to third place.

Michal Kwiatkowski finishes safely in the bunch to retain the maillot rojo.

Following the (small) loss in the previous stage, Daniel Martin is now out of GC contention as he lost more than 4 minutes in today’s stage.