Dombrowski second on Picon Blanco

The first uphill finish of the Vuelta a Espana 2021 (Santo Domingo de Silos-Picon Blanco, 202.8 km) saw Joe Dombrowski seek out his second Grand Tour stage victory of the season (the American had triumphed in the Giro d’Italia on the Sestola stage), having to surrender only to a flying Rein Taaramae (Intermarché-Wanty Goubert).

The 30 year old from UAE Team Emirates entered the break together with 7 other riders after 15 km of the race, going clear on the Puerto de Manquello (3rd category). The escapees built a good margin over the main group, thus being able to concentrate on the fight for success on the final ascent (7.6 km at 9.1% average gradient swept by a strong wind).

After an attempt by Lilian Calmejane (Ag2R-Citroen), it was Dombrowski’s turn to attack at -4 km from the finish, with only Elissonde (Trek-Segafredo) and Taaramae able to follow (curiously, the Estonian was also present in the escape of Sestola at the Giro d’Italia) .

 
The continued attacks from Dombrowski led to the failure of Elissonde but, despite pushing with determination, the UAE Team Emirates rider was unable to detach Taaramae and the latter accelerated at -3 km, going on to take the success with +21 ”on Dombrowski.

 
The Estonian jumped to the top of the general classification, in which UAE Team Emirates has Jan Polanc in 17th position at 1’39 “and David De La Cruz (yesterday delayed by the crashes in the final, in 30 °) at 2’17 “.

UAE Team Emirates won the team classification for today’s stage.

Dombrowski: “I thought today’s stage could offer good opportunities for a breakaway, being similar to the stage that I won this season in the Giro d’Italia.
The GC teams didn’t seem too worried, so I believed I could play my cards for a good result, also because we reached the last climb with a good gap we knew we were going for the win.
I am a bit disappointed to have taken second place : maybe I was too aggressive on the final climb, but my intention was to take advantage of the steepest sectors of the ascent to get away. Taaramae today was very strong, I gave my best, now I will try to take advantage of other opportunities that this Vuelta will offer ”.

The 4th stage will start from El Burgo de Osma and will end in Molina de Aragon after 163.9 km of undulating terrain.

Stage 3 results
1. Rein Taaramae (Intermarché-Wanty Goubert) 5h16’17 ”
2. Joe Dombrowski (UAE Team Emirates) +21 ”
3. Kenny Elissonde (Trek-Segafredo) +36 ”

General classification after the 3rd stage
1. Rein Taaramae (Intermarché-Wanty Goubert) 9h25’44 ”
2. Kenny Elissonde (Trek-Segafredo) +25 ”
3. Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) +30 ”
17. Jan Polanc (UAE Team Emirates) + 1’39 “