Philip Deignan is getting some quality miles in his legs this week at the Volta A Pais Vasco. The Irishman has a big job on his hands tomorrow and Friday as he aims to protect the race lead his teammate Mikel Landa currently holds.
By Brian Canty
Philip Deignan was once again to the fore this afternoon as Team Sky rode a textbook race in defending the race lead at the Volta A Pais Vasco.
After Mikel Landa won yesterday’s second stage, beating Wilco Kelderman by one second, the former took the jersey into today’s 193.5-kilometre leg from Vitoria-Gasteiz to Lesaka.
And buoyed by a huge home support, Landa was prominent throughout, crossing the line in 37th in the same time as stage winner Steve Cummings (Dimension Data).
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He had his team to thank once again for some superb marshalling of the pace, with Deignan doing a very good job.
The latter would eventually finish over three minutes down in 66th but won't be one bit concerned about that.
Dan Martin was keen to make up ground after losing 43 seconds to the winner yesterday but he endured a bad day, losing 6:29 and dropping to 55th overall.
He now trails by over seven minutes.
Daniel Navarro (Cofidis, Credits Solutions) looked like he’d take the stage as he broke clear of the bunch late on.
And with a non-technical descent and a fast run-in to the finish after the final climb inside 10k to go, he knew it was possible to stay.
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However, when a chase group caught him inside three kilometres to go his game was up.
A slight hesitation once that break regrouped allowed Cummings launch a late attack and his power took him away from the chasers.
He was just ahead of a fast-finishing Simon Gerrans (Orica GreenEdge) and third place Fabio Felline (Trek-Segafredo).
Tomorrow’s stage takes the riders 165 kilometres from Lesaka to Orio and there are six categorised climbs.
There’s a nasty cat one ascent after 30 kilometres which will give rise to the notion a break can escape and stay away for much of the day.
However, three category two climbs between kilometres 100 and 150 will likely see a regrouping of sorts.
Depending on how he’s feeling, Martin can now chase stage glory while Deignan’s role will once again be to protect the interests of Landa.
Wed, April 6th: Stage 3, Vitoria Gasteiz to Lesaka (193km)
1 Steve Cummings (GBr) Dimension Data, 5:01:57
2. Simon Gerrans (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge @s/t
3. Fabio Felline (Ita) Trek-Segafredo @s/t
4. Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Etixx-Quick Step @s/t
5. Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Movistar @s/t
6. Simon Clarke (Aus) Cannondale @s/t
7. Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto-Soudal @s/t
8. Pello Bilbao (Esp) Caja Rural @s/t
9. Sergei Chernetckii (Rus) Katusha @s/t
10. Sergio Henao (Col) Team Sky @s/t
66 Philip Deignan (IRL) Team Sky @3’33”
82 Dan Martin (IRL) Etixx-QuickStep @6'29"
General Classification
1 Mikel Landa (Spa) Team Sky in 13:39:35
2 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo @1sec
3 Sergio Henao (Col) Team Sky @5secs
4 Samuel Sanchez (Spa) BMC Racing @9secs
5 Alberto Contador (Spa) Tinkoff @11secs
6 Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ a@13secs
7 Rui Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida @15secs
8 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar @s/t
9 Robert Gesink (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo @s/t
10 Sebastian Reichenbach (Swi) FDJ @s/t
55 Dan Martin (IRL) Etixx-QuickStep @7'12"
84 Philip Deignan (IRL) Team Sky @16’22”
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