Dan Martin, on the right, can only slam the handlebars in frustration after the only man who could hold him in the charge to the line today at the Vuelta Michael Matthews take victory on stage 3 (Photo: Stefano Sirotti)
While expected to keep his powder dry until at least Thursday when the Vuelta a Espana hits the first climbs of the three-week race, Dan Martin had other ideas today; going for broke in an effort to take the stage win on what was a testing finish.
The Irish international riding for Garmin-Sharp had obviously studied the race handbook closely, and reckoned the draggy 1km climb up to the line suit his explosive climbing ability; which has in the past taken the shape of a very good sprint finish even on the flat.
Advertisement
Martin stayed near the top of the field on the closing incline, and when Katusha’s Giampaolo Caruso was the first to jump in a bid for stage glory, he eventually reacted.
The Italian got no more than a couple of seconds. But after Martin initially waited to get a little closer to the line before going all out, he eventually jumped, closing down the leader and passing him.
In his wake, Martin left standing some of the big favourites for the Vuelta, including Chris Froome (Team Sky), Rigoberto Uran (Omega Pharma-Quickstep) and Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo).
However, while the Irishman put bike lengths between himself and those riders, one man in the shape of Australian Michael Matthews (Orica GreenEdge) clung close to him.
And just before the line, the race now firmly a two-horse one, Matthews darted from behind Martin and used his sprinting ability to take the stage win.
While Martin banged his bars in frustration at being beaten, he looked in absolutely mint condition when he attacked and instantly left the biggest names in the race for dead, though the very fanned out top 16 riders were all credited with the same time as winner Matthews.
Philip Deignan (Team Sky) was in 86th place, some 1:38 back.
Related News
He is in Spain to assist Froome and would not have made an all out effort on the final climb today; opting instead to conserve his energy for the battles in the high mountains still to come.
Stage 3: Cádiz - Arcos de la Frontera 197.8km
1 Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica Greenedge 5:12:14
2 Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin Sharp
3 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Team Katusha
4 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team
5 Paul Martens (Ger) Belkin Pro Cycling Team
6 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team
7 Lloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
8 Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) FDJ.fr
9 Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Team Katusha
10 Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky
11 Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team
12 Samuel Sanchez (Spa) BMC Racing Team
13 Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas (Col) Movistar Team
14 Robert Gesink (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team
15 David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
86 Philip Deignan (Irl) Team Sky @1:38
General Classification
1 Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica Greenedge 9:27:53
2 Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas (Col) Movistar Team 0:00:04
3 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team 0:00:11
4 Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team 0:00:15
5 Damiano Caruso (Ita) Cannondale 0:00:17
6 Jhoan Esteban Chaves Rubio (Col) Orica Greenedge
7 George Bennett (NZl) Cannondale 0:00:20
8 Julian David Arredondo Moreno (Col) Trek Factory Racing
9 Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) Trek Factory Racing
10 Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team 0:00:22
11 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 0:00:23
12 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Tinkoff-Saxo
13 Robert Gesink (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team
14 Samuel Sanchez (Spa) BMC Racing Team 0:00:25
15 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team
24 Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin Sharp 0:00:39
76 Philip Deignan (Irl) Team Sky 0:02:09
Topics
