[08.04 17:21] Before today’s third stage of the Pais Vasco Team Saxo Bank had two men in front in the overall standings, Frank Schleck and Alexandr Kolobnev. Kolobnev did a brilliant finale yesterday and conquered second place overall and a nice spot for sports director, Kim Andersen, in the forefront of the motorcade behind the riders.

Today’s 172 kilometer long stage from Eibar to Villaturta was predicted a key role for the top riders since the course ended with a 1. category climb followed by a short sprint on the plateau to the finish line. The ascent, with a increase rate of 9,8, was actually to be climbed twice within the last 36 kilometres of the stage. Everything had a smell of tidbit for the mountain riders.

Seven riders had a lead to the peloton of a minute and a half as they started the first category climb. Here the front group was immediately split, while the entire Astana team increased the pace and created further havoc in the main group. Two riders in the breakaway, however, managed to keep the peloton behind over the second last climb of the day, Alto de San Miguel with an increase rate of 5,6. At the foot of the last climb the game was up for the two riders in front.

Immediately Astana created gaps in the peloton by putting up a high pace. Soon a group of favorites gathered in front among others Team Saxo Bank’s Frank Schleck. The race leader, Luis Leon Sanchez was quickly found having problems following, which made Alberto Contador (Astana) launch an attack in a crucial move. The Spanish spectators along the mountain side could wave their flags at Contador all the way to the finish line, where he came in as stage winner and the new leader of the race.

Behind him Cadel Evans (Lotto), Antonio Colom (Katusha), Samuel Sanchez (Euskatel Euskadi) fought a fierce struggle to catch up but came in nine seconds behind the Spaniard.

Team Saxo Bank’s Frank Schleck crossed the finish line one minute and eleven seconds behind Contador.

“Team Saxo Bank was well represented at the right time at the foot of the last climb, but Frank just did not have it in him to follow the high pace on the mountain today”, said the Danish sports direktor Kim Andersen after the race and ended: “Now the objective clearly is a stage win, and we are pleased of course that the team is intact and each rider is making progress”.

Fränk Schleck is now 16th and Danish Jakob Fuglsang advanced and is now nummer 20 overall.