Vuelta a Andalucía stage 3

Bad luck struck Euskaltel and Samuel Sánchez on today's third stage of the Vuelta a Andalucía. The Olympic champion flatted on the last climb some five kilometres from the line, ceding 51 seconds and any hope of a top overall result with it.

The 157km stage from Montamayor to Las Gabias saw 56 riders, among them Antón and Astarloza, approach the line together. Óscar Freire showed he still possesses a lethal kick despite his advancing age to claim the win ahead of younger challengers Schorn and Matthews, while Astarloza moved into the top ten on GC as Samu slipped to 36th because of his ill-timed puncture.

Stage results:

• (1, Óscar Freire, Rabobank)
• 34, Mikel Astarloza, s.t.
• 39, Igor Antón, s.t.
• 58, Egoi Martínez, 0:51
• 63, Samuel Sánchez, s.t.
• 98, Jorge Azanza, 4:18
• 99, Gorka Izagirre, s.t.
• 103, Juan José Oroz, s.t.

General classification:

• (1, Alejandro Valverde, Movistar)
• 10, Mikel Astarloza, 0:27
• 18, Igor Antón, 0:35
• 36, Samuel Sánchez, 1:12
• 53, Egoi Martínez, 2:32
• 79, Gorka Izagirre, 5:22
• 82, Juan José Oroz, 5:47
• 87, Jorge Azanza, 7:16

The Ruta del Sol concludes tomorrow with 135,7 lumpy kilometres from Jaén to La Guardia de Jaén including four cat.3 climbs.