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Tuesday, August 26, 2025

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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia

Be like the bird who, pausing in her flight awhile on boughs too slight, feels them give way beneath her, and yet sings, knowing she hath wings. - Victor Hugo

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Stoic philosopher Epictetus' Golden Sayings is available in both audiobook & Kindle eBook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.

Current racing:

• August 23 - September 14: Vuelta a España
• August 26 - 29: Tour Poitou Charentes en Nouvelle Aquitaine

Upcoming racing:

• August 31: Bretagne Classic-Ouest France

Latest completed racing:

• August 20 - 24: Renewi Tour
• August 19 - 22: Tour du Limousin
• August 17: Hamburg Cyclassics
• August 17: La Polynormande
• August 12 - 16: Tour of Denmark
• August 15: Circuit Franco-Belge
• August 4 - 10: Tour of Poland
• August 7 - 10: Arctic Race of Norway
• August 5 - 9: Vuelta a Burgos
• August 6 - 8: Tour de l'Ain
• August 3: Circuito de Getxo
• August 2: San Sebastian Classic

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Vuelta a España stage three reports

We posted the report from the race organizer with the results.

Here's the Vuelta report from stage winner David Gaudu's Team Groupama-FDJ:

The months of struggles are now behind him. On Monday, David Gaudu enjoyed pure euphoria again on stage 3 of the Vuelta a España. Boosted by his third-place finish in Limone Piemonte on Sunday, the Breton climber once again joined the fight in a tense and slightly uphill final in Ceres. This time, however, he got the better of Mads Pedersen and Jonas Vingegaard in the final metres to secure an astonishing victory. His third one on the Vuelta a España, and his first one in the WorldTour since 2022. After three days of racing, he sits second in the Vuelta a España general classification, but with the same time as the Danish red jersey.

David Gaudu wins Vuelta stage three. Sirotti photo

As the last Italian stage of the 2025 Vuelta a España was about to take place on Monday, the Groupama-FDJ cycling team was down to seven men following Guillaume Martin-Guyonnet’s abandon after a crash the day before, with a rib injury. It was necessary, however, not to lose the focus for a day that seemed calm on paper, but whose finale could prove tense. From San Maurizio Canavese, only 135 kilometres were to be covered towards Ceres, where the finish line was located at the end of a 2,500-metre climb averaging 3% but with a final kilometre at 5%.

“After David’s performance yesterday, and given today’s route, we believed in our chances, and we did everything to achieve the best possible result,” explained Frédéric Guesdon. “We started with the aim of competing in the final with David and Thibaud, but everything depended on how the stage unfolded. It was still quite a challenging course, and Lidl-Trek took advantage of the hilly and winding terrain at mid-race to make it hard and tire out their opponents. As for us, we rode really well, we were always well positioned, and we didn’t suffer too much. This scenario was the best one for David”. “We knew he was in great shape after yesterday and that the final suited him,” confirmed Rudy. “When I saw during the stage that everyone was tired, I told him he could win.”

The day’s breakaway, initially made of four men, was definitively caught twenty kilometres from the finish line, then the peloton tackled a long, slight false-flat towards the final. In Stefan Küng’s wake, the Groupama-FDJ cycling team almost never lost the front ranks. Nervosity gradually set in, especially in the last five kilometres, before tackling the climb to Ceres.

“We came to recon it because the hotel wasn’t far away, and we did well, because we’d noted some technical spots where we needed to be positioned, especially with two kilometres to go,” explained Frédéric Guesdon. “There was a small downhill, and we couldn’t hang around in the back because the corners followed one another quite quickly after.” A bit behind at that point, David Gaudu wisely decided to make an effort at that precise moment. “I managed to find the right timing with 2km to go to get back the right wheels,” he said.

Back at the front of the pack, the Breton didn’t drop back from then on as the peloton gradually reduced and stretched out. Careful and quick to react, he was even part of a small group of riders that broke away slightly 400 metres from the finish line, after Giulio Ciccone’s pull for his sprinter Mads Pedersen.

“I really liked the finish when we did the recon, and Stefan told me this morning: with your weight and your punch, you can beat Pedersen,” David reported. “I must admit I didn’t really believe it.” Yet he was on the wheel of the Dane and Jonas Vingegaard with 200 metres to go, before the final, decisive corner, located 75 metres from the finish line. “I saw that Mads wasn’t going to close the door, I managed to take the inside, and then it was a man-to-man fight all the way to the finish line,” David said. “We were a bit scared just before because we felt he was struggling a bit with the big push,” added Frédéric. “However, he managed to get back into position, he came very quickly in the corner, then his explosivity made the difference.”

After an effort as punchy as it was graceful, David Gaudu defeated the former world champion to secure a most memorable victory. “It’s amazing,” said Thibaud, who finished in eighteenth place. “I heard his name as I crossed the line, I was so happy.” “These are incredible feelings,” added Rudy, twenty-second. “We’ve been waiting for this for a while, we’re going to enjoy it.”

First speechless, then ecstatic, David Gaudu had every reason to savour this success, given the journey he’s had. “This season has been so hard… I’m really, really emotional,” he said in his first words. “I’ve had one setback after another, one struggle after another, but the team has always supported me, encouraged me, and get me back on track. It’s just a deserved reward to bring them this victory. That’s a relief. Raising your arms is the best you can ask for in cycling. I know I can be at this level, but I hadn’t been able to show it until now. I managed to do it yesterday, and again today. Our Vuelta is already a success.”

“He needed a little confidence, he got it yesterday, and today he showed what he’s capable of,” said Stefan Küng. “I’m very happy for him because we know what a season he’s had. He’s back to his true level. It’s great for him and for the team.” Frédéric Guesdon added: “It’s going to do good to everyone. First of all, to David, who struggled this year and who was hoping for a lot more from this season. As a sportsman, returning to victory after so many difficulties is always moving. Then to the team, because the Tour wasn’t super great, and the results haven’t been excellent either since then. This will allow us to get back on track for the end of the season.”

The Groupama-FDJ cycling team would have gladly taken the icing on the cake, namely the red jersey, but thanks to the addition of positions, Jonas Vingegaard kept his jersey on Monday, ahead of David Gaudu, who is now his runner-up. “A victory, a podium, second overall, we would have agreed for such a start before the Vuelta,” concluded Frédéric. “We know it’s important to start a Grand Tour in a good way, and we’ll try to continue like that. We’re also thinking of Guillaume this evening, and we’ll miss him for what comes next.” The next stage will take the riders to Voiron, in France, on Tuesday, for a fourth stage that will feature three climbs in the first seventy-five kilometres.

Here's the Vuelta report from GC leader Jonas Vingegaard's Team Visma | Lease a Bike:

Jonas Vingegaard was once again in contention for victory in the Vuelta a España the day after his stage win. The leader of the general classification sprinted to third place on the uphill streets of Ceres, retaining the red jersey.

Team Visma | Lease a Bike started the day with bad news. In addition to the announcement that some of the team's bikes had been stolen, it was also confirmed that Axel Zingle was forced to abandon the Spanish stage race. The Frenchman was not fit enough to start after his crash in the second stage. The Dutch cycling team continued with seven riders, but encountered no problems on the third day of racing in Italy.

Jonas Vingegaard just before the stage start. Sirotti photo

On the final category-four climb to Ceres, Vingegaard was well positioned by his teammates. The Dane ultimately sprinted to third place, behind compatriot Mads Pedersen and stage winner David Gaudu. “It was tough sitting on Mads’ wheel. I already knew it would be difficult to beat him. We can be satisfied with this third place and the bonification seconds that come with it”, Vingegaard says.
The wearer of the red jersey continues: “To be in the mix for the stage win two days in a row is great. Not just for me, but for the whole team. It gives us extra motivation. We’re here with a strong team and one clear goal. It’s a pity that Axel wasn’t able to start today.”

Tomorrow’s stage features three long climbs and around 3,000 metres of elevation, but ends with a flat finale. For the first time in this year’s Vuelta a España, the finish will not be in Italy, but in France. “It’s hard to make a prediction for the fourth stage. It will depend on how the race unfolds, the breakaway of the day, and the sprinters’ teams. One thing is certain, I won’t be giving up my red jersey easily”, Vingegaard concludes.

Here's the report from stage three second-place Mads Pedersen's Team Lidl-Trek:

From the outset, stage 3 was always marked on our roadbook as a day for Mads. An unpredictable route with nearly 2,000 meters of elevation gain over a relatively short distance, the finish favoured those with explosive power and savvy positioning – so in other words, a Pedersen day. As the riders tackled the mid-stage 2nd-category climb towards Issaglio, the Team began to flex their muscles, controlling tempo and setting the stage for a selective finale. Daan Hoole had spent much of the day making sure that the 4-man breakaway didn’t get too much wiggle room. Amanuel Gherbreigzabhier and Carlos Verona set a ferocious pace to deter any attacks from other teams in a late bid for glory.

In the last few kilometers, they intensified the pace, with Kragh-Anderson, Bernard and Bagioli positioning Pedersen perfectly for a sprint finish. A leadout from yesterday’s runner up, Ciccone, made it look as though victory was in the bag. However, in the final hairpin, Gaudu of Groupama – FDJ kicked off Mads’ wheel and just had enough to come around him on the line.

Mads Pedersen just after finishing second in stage three. Sirotti photo

Hear from Mads:
“The boys did great work all day. We knew from the beginning that no one would help us so it was a pretty hard day for the whole team and I'm just dissapointed I couldn't deliver what we were working the whole day for. It's tough to say but to finish second is the first loser on the line. We've been close two days in a row but it is what it is. We're showing good signs and we'll keep fighting to get the win. The Vuelta is long so, yeah, we will get it.

“The team was really impressive today, it's crazy how Daan was pulling alone for 60km's and also on the climb. When Amanuel and Carlos took over it was really really impressive. We made a plan on the bus this morning and the guys finished it off so chapeau to the whole team today.”

Here's the Vuelta report from Egan Bernal's Team INEOS Grenadiers:

Egan Bernal continued his momentum at the Vuelta a Espana with a strong eighth place finish on stage three.

The Colombian champion dug deep inside the final kilometre to shut down some key gaps to the leaders, ensuring he finished within a select lead group on the fourth-category climb into Ceres.

Egan Bernal at the start of the 2025 Giro d'Italia, Sirotti photo

A rapid pace throughout the short 134.6km test meant it was a fast leadout onto the final inclines and switchbacks. Filippo Ganna hit out early but would fade back through the group, while Victor Langellotti came home 21st, finishing on the same time as stage victor David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ).

The result ensured that Bernal retained fourth place overall, now sitting 14 seconds back on continued leader Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike).

The Grenadiers were able to sit within the bunch for much of the day, with the early four-man break never given much of an advantage by Lidl-Trek.

And here's the Vuelta stage three report from Team Soudal Quick-Step:

Monday brought one of the shortest road stages of this 80th edition, which travelled from San Maurizio Canavese to Ceres. Only 134.6 kilometers and two classified climbs, including the one at the finish, were on the menu, and the peloton has quite an easy job when it came to controlling and bringing back the four-man group that snapped the elastic in the opening kilometers.

It came as no surprise that the story of this stage was written in the last 200 meters, which averaged 6%, bringing into the spotlight a nice mix of fast men, puncheurs and even general classification riders. David Gaudu (Groupama-FdJ) sprinted to victory, while Gianmarco Garofoli was the first T-Rex Quick-Step rider home, just like on the opening stage.

Valentin Paret-Peintre signing autographs at the 2025 Tour de France. Sirotti photo

In the general classification, Valentin Paret-Peintre made an important jump and is now tenth going into the fourth stage – the last to start on Italian soil, and the longest of this year, for that matter – which will take the peloton over the famous Alpine climbs Col de Montgenèvre and Col du Lautaret before a finish on the flat in the French city of Voiron.

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