Vuelta 2021: Taaramäe solos into red jersey at Picón Blanco

foto: Cor VosRein Taaramäe attacks from the breakaway with 3 kilometres to go on the Picón Blanco. He solos to the stage win and red jersey, while Joe Dombrowski finishes in second. The GC group finishes 2 minutes behind the stage victor. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 3rd stage Vuelta a España 2021

1. Rein Taaramäe (est)
2. Joe Dombrowski (usa) + 0.21
3. Kenny Elissonde (fra) + 0.36
4. Lilian Calmejane (fra) + 1.16
5. Enric Mas (spa) + 1.45
6. Miguel Ángel López (col) + 1.48
7. Primoz Roglic (slo) s.t.
8. Adam Yates (gbr) s.t.
9. Mikel Landa (spa) s.t.
10. Giulio Ciccone (ita) s.t.

11. Egan Bernal (col) s.t.
12. Alejandro Valverde (spa) s.t.
13. Fabio Aru (ita) + 1.55
19. Hugh Carthy (gbr) + 2.09
24. Romain Bardet (fra) + 2.17
25. Aleksandr Vlasov (rus) + 2.17
38. Richard Carapaz (ecu) + 2.48

GC after stage 3
1. Rein Taaramäe (est)
2. Kenny Elissonde (fra) + 0.25
3. Primoz Roglic (slo) + 0.30
4. Lilian Calmejane (fra) + 0.35
5. Enric Mas (spa) + 0.45
6. Miguel Ángel López (col) + 0.51
7. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 0.57
8. Giulio Ciccone (ita) s.t.
9. Egan Bernal (col) s.t.
10. Mikel Landa (spa) + 1.09

12. Aleksandr Vlasov (rus) + 1.13
13. Fabio Aru (ita) + 1.14
14. Romain Bardet (fra) + 1.16
16. Adam Yates (gbr) + 1.21
24. Hugh Carthy (gbr) + 2.02
27. Richard Carapaz (ecu) + 2.15

Race report
Tobias Bayer, Julen Amezqueta, Antonio Jesus Soto, Rein Taaramäe and Joe Dombrowski join forces after 10 kilometer, while Lilian Calmejane, Kenny Elissonde and Jetse Bol bridge across. The eight open up a gap of 5 minutes at the first climb, Puerto del Manquillo.

The leaders extend the gap to 9 minutes. It has fallen to 4 minutes when Calmejane strikes while approaching the finish climb. The Frenchman enters the Picón Blanco 18 seconds ahead of the chasers, who bring him back after 1 kilometre of climbing.

Dombrowski, Taaramäe and Elissonde are the last men standing when Taaramäe accelerates inside the last 3 kilometres.

On the lower slopes Carapaz is the first pre-race favourite to lose contact in the GC group. And while Taaramäe forges on to victory, Movistar unleashes a powerful attack inside the last kilometre. The likes of Carthy, Bardet and Vlasov can’t follow and Mas is the first GG contender to cross the line.

Red Jersey Roglic finishes 3 seconds behind the Spaniard and drops to third place overall. The Slovene is still the best placed GC rider.

Another interesting read: route 3rd stage 2021 Vuelta.