Dan Martin sprints to victory on the third stage of the Vuelta a Espana today. Photo: Photogomez Sport
Israel Start-Up Nation’s Dan Martin sprinted to victory atop the La a Laguna Negra de Vinuesa climb on stage three of the Vuelta a Espana today.
The Irishman took stage honours after attacking 200m from the finish from a leading group of 12 riders, which included overall leader Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) and king of the mountains Richard Carapaz (Ineos).
Roglic and Carapaz placed second and third respectively.
“I was really determined to win a stage today. The team were amazing, and every single one of them played their part in the victory,” said an emotional Martin.
“This win is partly for them and then partly for my wife because this is the first time I’ve won a race since my kids were born and it’s really special.”
Stefan de Bod (NTT Pro Cycling) was the leading South African to finish the 166km stage, crossing the line in 65th position. Willie Smit (Burgos-BH) followed closely behind in 67th.
In the general classification, Martin reduced Roglic’s lead to five seconds.
An unfortunate mechanical caused Columbia’s Esteban Chaves (Mitchelton-Scott) to lose precious time on the climb, dropping him from fourth to eighth overall.
Results:
| 1 | Dan Martin | IRL | Israel Start-Up Nation | 4:27:49 |
| 2 | Primož Roglic | SLV | Team Jumbo Visma | |
| 3 | Richard Carapez | ECU | Ineos Grenadiers | |
| 4 | Wout Poels | NED | Bahrain-McLaren | +0:04 |
| 5 | Aleksandr Vlasov | RUS | Team Astana | +0:07 |
| 6 | Enric Mas | ESP | Team Movistar | +0:09 |
| 7 | Felix Großschartner | AUS | BORA-honsgrohe | +0:12 |
| 8 | Hugh Carthy | GBR | EF Pro Cycling | |
| 9 | Sepp Kuss | USA | Team Jumbo Visma | |
| 10 | Clement Champoussin | FRA | AG2R La Mondiale | +0:24 |
*Selected
| 65 | Stefan de Bod | RSA | NTT Pro Cycling | +7:04 |
| 67 | Willie Smit | RSA | Burgos-BH | |
| 84 | Nic Dlamini | RSA | NTT Pro Cycling | +8:27 |
| 95 | Reinhardt Janse van Rensburg | RSA | NTT Pro Cycling | +9:57 |
General classification
| 1 | Primož Roglic | SLV | Team Jumbo Visma | 12:37:24 |
| 2 | Dan Martin | IRL | Israel Start-Up Nation | +0:05 |
| 3 | Richard Carapez | ECU | Ineos Grenadiers | +0:13 |
| 4 | Enric Mas | ESP | Team Movistar | +0:32 |
| 5 | Hugh Carthy | GBR | EF Pro Cycling | +0:38 |
| 6 | Sepp Kuss | USA | Team Jumbo Visma | +0:44 |
| 7 | Felix Großschartner | AUS | BORA-honsgrohe | +1:17 |
| 8 | Esteban Chaves | COL | Mitchelton-Scott | +1:29 |
| 9 | Marc Soler | ESP | Team Movistar | +1:55 |
| 10 | George Bennet | NZL | Team Jumbo Visma | +1:57 |
