David Gaudu steals Pedersen's stage in a new uphill finish

True to the style of La Vuelta, a new short and explosive finish in which all bets pointed to a victory for Mads Pedersen and no one counted on a David Gaudu who appeared out of nowhere to surprise everyone.

Jonas Vingegaard retains the red jersey for another day in another explosive finish of La Vuelta

The third stage of La Vuelta presented us with a more interesting profile than previous days on a route that connected San Maurizio Canavese with Ceres. A day divided into two clear parts, the first half completely flat and the final, after overcoming a second category climb, on broken and ratonero terrain with several unpunctuated ramps that could well be categorized.

As a dessert, a typical Italian finish in Ceres, a village located high up with an explosive climb that ruled out the pure sprinters. The only problem, a stage of just 134 kilometers, insufficient to generate the wear and tear that often leads to the spectacle. Let's not forget that cycling is a sport of endurance.

RECOMENDADO

Jonas Vingegaard does not shy away from his status as a favorite after winning the second stage and claiming the red leader's jersey in La Vuelta 2025

Volume per kilometers or per hours, which is better?

Advantages and disadvantages of hookless wheels

Double victory for the Orbea Fox Factory Team before the return of the World Cup

Jasper Philipsen fulfills the predictions in the first stage of La Vuelta 2025

The 2025 Vuelta a España kicks off: schedules, dates, favorites, and route

The breakaway of the day was more fought than in previous days, but in the end, more of the same. This time, the men of Lidl-Trek were in charge of deciding how it would be, in a stage that seemed destined for Mads Pedersen's victory. After a small group of 4 units formed, Sean Quinn, Patrick Gamper, Alessandro Verre, and Luca Van Boven, they decided that this was the perfect number to control easily and blocked the attacks, depriving us of the spectacle we see in other races with a first or even second hour fought tooth and nail with dozens of attacks.

In the second category climb, the breakaway was selected thanks to the effort of the mountain leader, Alessandro Verre, to seek some interesting points. Only Sean Quinn went with him. After the climb, the effort took its toll on the Italian and, on one of those unpunctuated ramps, the American was left alone ahead in pursuit of the combativity prize, as his adventure had an expiration date due to the push of the Lidl-Trek cyclists.

Lidl-Trek accelerated the pace on the climb to drop Jasper Philipsen, who, although he would later catch up, was left with his strength greatly diminished for the stage finish. In truth, Lidl-Trek did everything right, maintaining the block and positioning Mads Pedersen perfectly in the approach to the finish line.

The Dane anticipated the tricky last corner knowing that it was necessary to take it at the front, when, coming out from the third position, after the Dane, came the other Dane, the leader Jonas Vingegaard, who appeared tracing masterfully on the inside a David Gaudu who had already shown his good form in yesterday's stage and surprised a dismayed Mads Pedersen, taking a victory that ends a streak of bad luck in this 2025.

The Frenchman tied with Jonas Vingegaard in the general classification, but the results of the first stage decided that the Visma-Lease a Bike rider will once again wear the red leader's jersey tomorrow.

Stage 3 Classification

1. David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) 2h59'24''
2. Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) +00''
3. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) +00''
4. Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) +00''
5. Jordan Labrosse (Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale) +00''
6. Orluis Aular (Movistar) +00''
7. Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain-Victorious) +00''
8. Egan Bernal (INEOS Grendiers) +00''
9. Bjorn Koerdt (Picnic-PostNL) +00''
10. Jai Hindley (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) +00''

General Classification

1. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) 10h55'36''
2. David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) +00''
3. Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) +08''
4. Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers) +14''
5. Thomas Pidcock (Q36.5) +16''
6. Jai Hindley (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) +16''
7. Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain-Victorious) +16''
8. Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) +16''
9. Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +16''
10. Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-QuickStep) +16''