Third stage of the Spanish stage race, Vuelta Andalucia Ruta del Sol between Marbella and Benahavis was characterized by Gomez Marchante (Andalucía-Cajasur) and Brice Feillu (Vacansoleil) who broke clear of the bunch after only five kilometers of today’s undulating stretch of 162 kilometers.

Five climbs were to be ascended in weather conditions that finally reminded more of spring than winter. However, the wind made it difficult for the breakaway to maintain a high pace and with Milram and Sergio Pardilla’s team, Carmiooro NGC in font of the chasing peloton, the stage turned out be another showdown for the sprinters.

On the finish line, Oscar Freire (Rabobank) took his second win of the race. Grega Bole (Lampre) was second and Simon Gerrans (Team Sky) third.

Team Saxo Bank’s German power engine, Jens Voigt put in a decisive effort and finished sixth in the sprint showdown.

Teammates Fränk Schleck and Gustav Larsson were wisely positioned in the front of the field and finished respectively 14th and 15th.

Only 30 kilometers from the finish line, Jens Voigt was dropped from the peloton:
“On the very last descent, we were on our heels as Jens had a puncture on his front wheel and was separated from the front. We had to put in a demanding effort to close the one minute gap in headwind along the coastline to put Jens back in the pack and on the finish line, he was right behind Freire. And still he had the power to launch a good sprint. Jens is back where we love to see him and I sense that he most definitely has the craving for victory that is necessary to be in the game. Tomorrow, we are doing a short time trial where I expect a good result from him”, says sports director Kim Andersen after the stage.

Sergio Pardilla (Carmiooro-NGC) maintains the lead of the race before tomorrow’s 10.9 kilometer time trial.