In a heart-stopping conclusion to stage three of the Volta a Catalunya, UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s Juan Ayuso emerged victorious by the narrowest of margins, edging out Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe’s Primoz Roglic in a photo finish.
The Spanish rider’s triumph marked a thrilling culmination to the 218.6km ride from Viladecans to La Molina, which saw the peloton tackle the challenging mountains. Ayuso’s victory propelled him to the top of the general classification, with a slender six-second lead over Roglic.
The stage was set for a showdown between the two pre-race favorites, and they did not disappoint. As the finish line approached, Ayuso and Roglic burst clear of the peloton, engaging in a fierce sprint that left the crowd on the edge of their seats.
In the end, it was Ayuso who crossed the line a fraction of a second ahead of Roglic, securing a hard-fought victory. Mikel Landa of Soudal-QuickStep finished third, just two seconds behind the leading duo.
With four stages remaining, the battle for the Volta a Catalunya title is heating up. Ayuso’s narrow lead over Roglic sets the stage for a thrilling showdown, and fans can expect more intense action as the riders tackle the mountains once again in stage four.
Stage Three Results:
- Juan Ayuso (Spa/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 5hrs 49mins 29secs
- Primoz Roglic (Slo/Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) same time
- Mikel Landa (Spa/Soudal-QuickStep) +2secs
- Lenny Martinez (Fra/Bahrain Victorious) +4secs
- Lennert Van Eetvelt (Bel/Lotto) +4secs
General Classification after Stage Three:
- Juan Ayuso (Spa/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 14hrs 30mins 49secs
- Primoz Roglic (Slo/Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +6secs
- Mikel Landa (Spa/Soudal-QuickStep) +11secs
- Enric Mas (Spa/Movistar) +14secs
- Junior Lecerf (Bel/Soudal-QuickStep) +17secs