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Pozzovivo carries off Volta a Catalunya’s Stage 3, Rolland assumes lead

March 25, 2015
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Ag2r’s Italian climber Domenico Pozzovivo won Wednesday’s Volta a Catalunya Stage 3 out of a select group that distinguished itself on a climb close to the finish in Girona. Pierre Rolland (France/Europcar) snatched the green and white striped leader’s jersey from Maciej Paterski (Poland/CCC).

The day’s first breakaway failed, but a fugitive from Tuesday’s stage, Lluis Mas (Spain/Caja Rural), decided to try his luck again with Benoit Jarrier (France/Bretagne-Séché). Before the first categorized climb a quartet reinforced the duo. Over the first Cat. 3 climb Cofidis’s Rudy Molard (France) took the maximum points, and then Leonard Duque (Colombia/Colombia) was first over the next Cat. 3. With 86.5-km remaining the sextet had a gap of 3:45 over the CCC, Movistar and Tinkoff-Saxo-powered peloton.

The next climb was the first of two passages over the Cat. 1 Alt Dels Angels (6-km of 5.5% average), the second one peaking 13-km from the finish in Girona. Paterski began to fade on the climb but rejoined the peloton. Duque, Molard and American Tom Danielson (Cannondale-Garmin) moved away from the other three escapees and Duque summited the Alt Dels Angels in front. Tinkoff-Saxo reduced the gap to a minute.

Next on the menu was the Cat. 2 Alto De Santa Pallaia, a long but mild climb that crested 40-km from the line, and that’s where the trio was scooped up. Tinkoff-Saxo continued churning at the pointy end of the race. Wet roads and high pace led to several crashes and created splits.

A leading group 30-riders strong with Rolland present but Paterski and Tuesday’s winner Alejandro Valverde absent hit the foot of the Alt Dels Angels. Surprisingly, Chris Froome (Great Britain/Sky) lost contact as Alberto Contador (Spain/Tinkoff-Saxo) lifted the pace. Richie Porte (Australia/Sky) and Fabio Aru (Italy/Astana) were among the six riders able to go with El Pistolero. Contador kept attacking, as did Porte.

Five riders crested together–Pozzovivo first–and then started the drop to Girona, but Andrew Talansky (USA/Cannondale-Garmin) and later his Irish teammate Dan Martin made it seven. The Froome, Valverde and Rolland chase group edged closer but Paterski was in a group behind.

With 2-km remaining Pozzovivo attacked, having saved his energy on the descent and chase. The diminutive Italian finished 3-seconds ahead of Rigoberto Uran (Colombia/Etixx-QuickStep) and 22-seconds ahead of the Rolland group.

Christian Meier placed 103rd, 9:13 back and Ryder Hesjedal (Cannondale-Garmin) came in 132nd and 11:46 in arrears.

Thursday is the queen stage with the only summit finish of the race.


2015 Volta a Catalunya Stage 3
1) Domenico Pozzovivo (Italy/Ag2r) 3:52:37
2) Rigoberto Uran (Colombia/Etixx-QuickStep) +0:03
3) Dan Martin (Ireland/Cannondale-Garmin) s.t.
103) Christian Meier (Canada/Orica-GreenEdge) +9:13
132) Ryder Hesjedal (Canada/Cannondale-Garmin) +11:46

2015 Volta a Catalunya GC
1) Pierre Rolland (France/Europcar) 22:09:23
2) Maciej Paterski (Poland/CCC) +1:08
3) Bart De Clercq (Belgium/Lotto-Souldal) +1:16
79) Christian Meier (Canada/Orica-GreenEdge) +11:37
133) Ryder Hesjedal (Canada/Cannondale-Garmin) +29:43

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