Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana stage 3: Enric Mas outlasts attackers, takes race lead
The Movistar rider took his fifth pro win while overnight leader Miles Scotson struggled on climbs.
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Enric Mas (Movistar Team) won a very lumpy queen stage 3 of the 2021 Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana.
Finishing atop the Cat 2 Dos Aguas climb to Alto de la Reina, Mas outlasted attacks from Victor Lafay (Cofidis) and Elie Gesbert (Arkéa-Samsic) in the steep final kilometer.
“This victory really feels great – my first win with these colors! I’m super proud of how the team has worked today; they all really were on top of their game today, just like over the whole Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, always trying to give their best. We’ve been able to finish this off and it’s been in great part because of them,” Mas said.
Overnight race leader Miles Scotson (Groupama-FDJ) struggled on the stage, and slipped out of the lead on time before the final climb.
Mas’ teammate Nelson Oliveira several times attacked the group on the way to the final climb to presumably soften legs, while Mas feigned fatigue at the back of the group.
Mas, Lafay, and Gesbert were part of a 16-man break that escaped at 65km to go. This group became 11 just a handful of kilometers later, and lasted into the base of the final climb.
Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ), an accomplished time trial rider, is 51 seconds back of Mas on the GC and will be looking to erase this deficit in the stage 4 time trial.
Rémy Rochas (Cofidis) is tied on overall accumulated time with Küng.
The 14.3km stage 4 time trial is as flat a route as the region can offer with a slight incline at 9km, on an otherwise short and flat stage.
Mas is aware of the challenge ahead of him.
“It’s a short, flat TT tomorrow — we’ll have to give our best. Being honest: It doesn’t suit me that well, but I’m really motivated to try and keep the jersey,” he said.
https://twitter.com/Movistar_Team/status/1383042546163679236
Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana stage 3 Results
- Enric Mas (Movistar Team), 4:11:47
- Victor Lafay (Cofidis), at 00:02
- Élie Gesbert (Arkéa Samsic), at 00:08
- Luis Ángel Maté (Euskaltel-Euskadi), at 00:29
- Gotzon Martín (Euskaltel-Euskadi), at 00:31
- Rémy Mertz (Bingoal-Pauwels Sauces), at s.t.
- Nelson Oliveira (Movistar Team), at 00:35
- Rémy Rochas (Cofidis), at 00:38
- Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ), at s.t.
- Mikel Iturria (Euskaltel-Euskadi), at 1:33
