Lara Gillespie (UAE Team ADQ) has survived a day of crosswinds and crashes at La Vuelta to contest her first bunch sprint at a Grand Tour.
However, the Irish rider looked like she lacked a little by way of lead-out in the final into Huesca today, after 132km of racing on the race's second longest today.
With Gillespie apparently fending for herself at the finish - after a late crash split the field - the teams of the general classification riders ramped up the pace.
However, though the Visma-Lease a Bike team of yesterday's stage winner, Marianne Vos, took control on the front of the bunch as the line neared, it was Team SD Worx-Protime who hit the front when it really mattered.
They laid on a fantastic lead-out for Femke Gerritse; the Dutch rider winning the stage. She also took the race lead after busying herself today taking time bonuses along the way, and beating Vos to those all-important seconds at this point of the race.
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Gillespie was further back than we are used to seeing her, sprinting home in 17th place, on the same time as the winner. However, she was in the hunt today, after a disappointing opening stage yesterday saw her lose time as the group split, due to crashes in the wet conditions.
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The Irish woman, who is making her Grand Tour debut, may get another chance tomorrow on the 111.6km stage 4 from Pedrola to Borja. However, the stage will be harder than the opening two road stages as there are two cat 2 climbs to contest, including one crested with just 13km to go.
Those climbs, especially the second one, will trim the peloton right back, and if Gillespie wants to be in the hunt she will need to have her climbing legs on.
?️ A hectic day in the office brings us the first echelons of #LaVueltaFemenina
❤️ Femke Gerritse’s strong effort secures her not only the stage win, but also the red jersey
? Relive it all now with the highlights of stage 3️⃣ pic.twitter.com/X1msnf8OrQ
— La Vuelta Femenina by Carrefour.es (@LaVueltaFem) May 6, 2025
