Volta a Catalunya

Stage 3:  La Vall d’En Bas to La Seu d’Urgell, 185.9km/1115mi

By Cathy Mehl

Things don’t always go as planned in bike racing.  With Team RadioShack riders Levi Leipheimer and Andreas Klöden just one- and two-seconds off the lead, today’s stage 3 should have been a day to maintain placings or move up….but it certainly didn’t turn out that way.  Crashes marred the day and sent team rider Daryl Impey away in an ambulance.  Xavier Tondo (Cervelo) outsprinted Joaquim Rodriquez of Katusha for the win, with the latter taking over the race lead. 

Team Director Viatcheslav Ekimov explained the action on the road: “The tactics were perfect.  There was a breakaway of 13 riders with Impey in the group.  We only had to control the back, we didn’t have to pull.  It was up to other teams to work.  But suddenly everything changed with the crash of Impey.”

Co-director Jose Azevedo took up the story, saying, “ Daryl crashed in gravel on a descent.  It was a confusing situation.  Cars were in the middle of the road on a corner.  When I arrived I saw Daryl lying in a river.  Fortunately I saw him move his arms and legs, but he had a lot of pain.  They loaded him into an ambulance and took him to the hospital.”

“The situation changed at that point,” said Eki.  “Now we had no TRS rider left in the front group that had an almost four-minute advantage.  Now we had to chase and we did that with our strong riders Haimar Zubeldia and Jani Brajkovic.  They pulled and we managed to neutralize the breakaway.”  At 50km to go Tondo attacked, and “Levi was on his wheel, but Tondo’s acceleration was really impressive and he was too strong for us.

“In the end there was again a crash on a descent, this time involving Jason McCartney but he was ok.  Levi got held up a bit because of the crash and lost time.  Andreas lost time too because of cramps on the last climb.  Jani was strong but he had worked so hard earlier in the stage that some of his forces were gone.”

Thursday brings stage 4 from Oliana to Asco with the longest stage of the race at 209.7km.  Look for an update on Daryl as soon as we have solid information.*

*Daryl reports via Twitter: "Well guys, I'm alive....crashed over the barriers as u all know into a river.  Busted my knee and have a few bruises but neck/back is ok!"  Heal up, Daryl!

Top Ten Results

1              Xavier Tondo (Spa) Cervelo Test Team  4:43:23                   

2              Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha                  

3              Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne       0:00:48  

4              Sandy Casar (Fra) Française Des Jeux      0:01:20  

5              Michel Kreder (Ned) Garmin - Transitions                              

6              Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale                       

7              Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank                               

8              Aitor Perez (Spa) Footon-Servetto                            

9              Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Astana                         

10           Rein Taaramae (Est) Cofidis, le Credit en Ligne

Team RadioShack on Stage 3

19           Jani Brajkovic (Slo)

28           Levi Leipheimer (USA) 0:02:05

42           Andreas Klöden (Ger)0:02:24

101         Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) 0:19:56

150         Tomas Vaitkus (Ltu) 0:28:03 

161         Bjørn Selander (USA)

165         Jason McCartney (USA) 0:33:38

DNF       Daryl Impey  (RSA)

General Classification after Stage 3

1              Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha                  9:04:12                   

2              Xavier Tondo (Spa) Cervelo Test Team   0:00:10  

3              Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne       0:00:48  

4              Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale      0:01:20  

5              Kristijan Koren (Slo) Liquigas-Doimo                         

6              Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin - Transitions                             

7              Rein Taaramae (Est) Cofidis, le Credit en Ligne                     

8              Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas-Doimo 0:01:22  

9              Michel Kreder (Ned) Garmin - Transitions             0:01:24  

10           Jani  Brajkovic (Slo) Team Radioshack      0:01:25

Team RadioShack on General Classification

23           Levi Leipheimer (USA) 0:02:00

32           Andreas Klöden (Ger) 0:02:20

94           Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) 0:20:05

150         Tomas Vaitkus (Ltu) 0:28:10 

152         Bjørn Selander (USA)     0:28:11

164         Jason McCartney (USA) 0:35:02