Team Astana, with two riders in the top 10 (Zubeldia 2nd and Dyachenko 10th) report on Stage 3 of the Volta a Catalunya.
Team Astana’s Haimar Zubeldia saw the chance to escape in the final 35km of the 89th Volta a Catalunya in stage 3 on Wednesday. With two Cat. 1 climbs still to ride it was the perfect opportunity to gain time on other GC favorites. Another group came across to Zubeldia’s group and included teammate Alexandr Dyachenko as well as race leader Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d’Epargne). This group managed to stay almost 30-seconds ahead of the peloton with Valverde able to claim victory on the line and retain the leader’s jersey another day. Haimar moved into 2nd place on GC and Alexandr claimed 10th overall.
Riding in warm, summer-like temperatures, a break of four went away early in the race. Valverde’s team kept a tight control, letting the lead go to only five minutes and bringing them back before the final climbs.
Top Ten Results on Stage 3
1 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne 4.46.53 (38.232 km/h)
2 David De La Fuente (Spa) Fuji-Servetto
3 Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin – Slipstream
4 Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi
5 Xavier Tondo (Spa) Andalucia-Cajasur
6 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Team Saxo Bank
7 Jos? Angel Gomez Marchante (Spa) Cervelo Test Team
8 Mikel Astarloza (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi
9 Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Astana
10 Alexandr Dyachenko (Kaz) Astana
General Classification after Stage 3
1 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne 9.03.05
2 Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Astana 0.14
3 Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi 0.15
4 Mikel Astarloza (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi 0.17
5 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Team Saxo Bank 0.18
6 Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin – Slipstream 0.19
7 Jos? Angel Gomez Marchante (Spa) Cervelo Test Team 0.21
8 Xavier Tondo (Spa) Andalucia-Cajasur 0.23
9 David De La Fuente (Spa) Fuji-Servetto 0.25
10 Alexandr Dyachenko (Kaz) Astana 0.28
