Another summit finish on the Volta a Catalunya, and another strong performance from Lenny Martinez. On a very mountainous stage 3 this Wednesday, finishing at Port Ainé, the young climber from Groupama-FDJ once again proved to be among the main contenders for the general classification. He secured ninth place at the top, just over a minute behind the winner Tadej Pogacar, but very close to his direct competitors. He even gained one position overall this Wednesday and now sits in fourth. Two easier days, on paper, now awaits the riders.
After a first battle between the favourites in Catalonia on Tuesday, an almost identical scenario was anticipated this Wednesday. However, the profile was not quite similar, since three major climbs featured in the third stage, with a finish at the top of the long Port Ainé (18 km at 6.7%). A day made of climbing and descending loomed for the bunch, which proved also extremely lively at the start of the race since many wanted to join the breakaway. The fight lasted until the day’s first climb, where ten riders managed to open a small gap. Mauri Vansevenant, Ethan Hayter, Juan Pedro Lopez, Hugh Carthy, Ivan Sosa, Nicolas Prodhomme, Harold Tejada, Andreas Kron, Stephen Williams and Andreas Leknessund established a solid leading group, but UAE Team Emirates tried to keep it under control. The gap barely reached one minute and a half, and the bunch further increased the pace on the second climb, after a long 50-kilometre valley. In the ascent of Port de Cantó, Visma-Lease a Bike took command, the breakaway was caught, a selection took place, and just fifty men reached the summit in the lead.
“I managed my effort so as not to explode”, Lenny Martinez
With the white jersey on his shoulders, Lenny Martinez was up there. “He found himself alone a bit too early today but Rémy had a bad day,” explained Thierry Bricaud. “He has two days to recover and have a great weekend.” “It was another hard day, with three climbs and descending valleys in-between,” added Lenny. “In the end, the day came down to three forty-five-minute efforts at threshold.” The last effort started eighteen kilometres from the finish, and the high tempo quickly reduced the favourites’ group to around twenty riders. The selection came from the back for quite a bit of time, before Mikel Landa launched a first attack more than six kilometres from the summit. The Spaniard was immediately chased and countered by Tadej Pogacar, who then flew towards a second victory in a row. Behind these two, Lenny Martinez kept his position in the main group of favorites. “I felt quite good in the last climb, much better than how I felt in the first one,” he said. “The pace was very, very high. I managed my effort until the top so as not to explode and to keep my place overall, or even gain one.”
Lenny Martinez even entered the last kilometre hoping for the day’s third place. However, a handful of riders took a small gap and the young man eventually reached the line in 9th, 1’10 behind Pogacar, twenty-two seconds behind Landa, and just seven from third place. Thanks to his great performance, he also rose to fourth place overall on Wednesday. “I gained one position, so it’s quite a good day,” he said. “We’re satisfied with this day, like we were yesterday,” added Thierry. “He’s still in the mix. The same ones were in front, but there is room to get a good result overall. We will have to stay focused in the next two days, then return to the fight on the last two stages.” Heading towards Leida on Thursday, the general classification should not undergo any real changes. “It’s not going to be calmer though,” added Thierry Bricaud. “It seems like the easiest stage on paper, but it will be very fast”.
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