Vuelta a España stage 3 preview - Will Pedersen seize the opportunity?

Monday presents the shortest of the three full stages on Italian roads. After the uphill finish on stage 2 to Limone Piemonte, the peloton will take on a second consecutive finish that rises towards the line. 

However, the finishing climb to Ceres is less difficult than that of Limone Piemonte and should see a greater selection of riders tackle the finale.

Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike) is the new race leader after his victory atop Limone Piemonte on stage 2. The Dane leads Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) by four seconds and David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) by six seconds. 

Key information:

• Date: Monday, 25 August
• Start: 14:20 (CET)
• Estimated Finish: 17:22 (CET)
• Stage type: Medium Mountains
• Stage length: 134.6km
• Elevation gain: 1,996m

Follow stage 3 live at Domestique with our live reporting!

Out of the six host locations of the opening three stages in Italy, San Maurizio is the only location that will be making its debut in hosting a Grand Tour stage at this Vuelta.

The first half of the stage is the flattest, with little climbing terrain, but things change around the midway point with the first categorised climb.

The category 2 climb to Issiglio marks the turning point in the stage where the near 2,000 metres of elevation gain begin to tick up. Standing at 5.5km with an average gradient of 6.5%, the climb is tough enough to cause the sprinters some difficulties with a strong tempo. 

Given its positioning in the stage with 70km remaining to the finish, any sprinters who have problems should have an opportunity to return to the peloton.

However, in the short term, it could be advantageous for Pedersen’s Lidl-Trek team to cause the other fast finishers some difficulties with the intermediate sprint at the foot of the descent over the other side of the climb. 

With only points going to the first five riders at the intermediate sprint, it's an opportunity to gain at least 10 points over your rivals in the points classification, especially if there was another four-man breakaway up the road, such as on stage 2, for example.

Following the intermediate sprint, the road rises once more, however, on a steady, uncategorised drag, and this is followed by a sharper, uncategorised climb towards Corio with less than 30km remaining.

The final climb to Ceres is long and continuous, beginning well before its official categorisation and the race organisers have categorised the ascent as 2.6km long with an average gradient of 3.6%. 

On paper, it shouldn’t be difficult enough to prevent a bunch sprint, but with the accumulation of climbing in the second half of the stage, it should be enough to put some fast finishers out of contention. We saw a large group of around 30 riders in the mix inside the final kilometre on stage 2, meaning that the climb to Ceres could see an even bigger group contest the finish.

Key points:

• Issiglio | Category 2 - 5.5km at 6.5% - 68.8km to go
• Intermediate Sprint at Cuorgné - 56.1km to go
• Ceres | Category 4 - 2.6km at 3.6% - 2.6km to go

The final ascent will suit Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) much more than stage 2, as it is both shorter and shallower. Lidl-Trek have a strong team around Pedersen who are capable of controlling the pace to prevent attacks, as well as distancing some of the other fast finishers who are weaker climbers

If Pedersen is able to find the winning formula on Monday, it would yield a Vuelta stage victory to add to the three he picked up in his previous appearance in 2022.

After comfortably winning the opening stage, Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) illustrated that he has recovered well from the injuries sustained in his crash at the Tour de France in July. The Belgian sprinter has also demonstrated on multiple occasions that he can survive the hills better than most of his rivals when at his best. 

Philipsen also sat up before the climbing got underway on stage 2, perhaps in anticipation of saving the legs for the stage that is more suitable for the Belgian, but he will need to be climbing near his top level to be competitive.

Ethan Vernon (Israel-Premier Tech) was runner-up on the opening stage behind Philipsen and won the sprint for fifth at the intermediate sprint on stage 2, suggesting the British rider is in great shape. If he can navigate the climb towards the finish, he will be one of the top contenders for the sprint.

Orluis Aular (Movistar) finished third on the opening stage, which was a pan-flat finish. It's an impressive result considering that the Venezuelan is arguably better-suited to this finish. Iván García Cortina (Movistar) is another option for the Spanish team, having finished 5th on the opening stage behind his Venezuelan teammate.

Ben Turner (Ineos Grenadiers) has had a quick turnaround with the late call-up, but if the British rider can replicate his form illustrated at the Tour de Pologne, he is a bona fide contender for a stage finish like this. He was 12th on the opening stage, but is definitely capable of improving from his previous best Vuelta stage result - 4th in 2019 on stage 19 behind Mads Pedersen. Victor Langellotti (Ineos Grenadiers), who was also on form at the Tour de Pologne with a stage win, could feature if things become more selective.

Tom Pidcock (Q36.5) has been in the mix on both stages so far, with 9th and 10th-place finishes. This finish is another one where it would not be a surprise to see Pidcock near the front. He is the only rider so far to finish in the top 10 on both stages, and could continue the streak on Monday. Fabio Christen (Q36.5) could be another option for the team if Pidcock is not in contention.

Axel Zingle (Visma | Lease a Bike) would have been one to watch for this stage, but his crash on stage 2 nearly saw the Frenchman abandon the race. It remains to be seen what condition he will be in come Monday morning.

Other fast finishers who could feature in the finale if they can navigate the climbing include Casper Van Uden (Picnic PostNL), Guillermo Thomas Silva (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Madis Mihkels (EF Education-EasyPost), Ivo Oliveira (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), Bryan Coquard (Cofidis), Jake Stewart (Israel-Premier Tech), Anders Foldager (Jayco AlUla) and Thibaud Gruel (Groupama-FDJ), among others.

Vuelta a España stage 3 favourites

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Pedersen, Philipsen
⭐️⭐️ Turner, Aular, Vernon 
⭐️ García Cortina, Pidcock, Mihkels, Coquard, Gruel

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