Jonas Vingegaard retained his lead at the Vuelta a España after a dramatic stage three that saw David Gaudu take victory in a tight uphill sprint finish. The stage, a 139km ride from San Maurizio Canavese to Ceres in Italy, provided early drama both on and off the road, with Vingegaard’s Visma-Lease a Bike team reporting the theft of several bicycles from their equipment truck just hours before the start.
Despite the setback, Vingegaard showed resilience and tactical awareness, finishing third on the stage behind Mads Pedersen and the winner, Gaudu. The Dane crossed the line largely unfazed, maintaining his grip on the leader’s jersey in the general classification. His performance comes after a bruising stage two, where he crashed in wet conditions but still managed to claim victory with a bloodied elbow.
Gaudu, who finished third the previous day, produced a strong uphill sprint to secure his first stage win at the Vuelta since 2020. His effort earned him a valuable 10 bonus seconds, moving him up to second overall, closing the gap on Vingegaard. Pedersen’s teammate Giulio Ciccone, who finished fourth on the stage, now occupies third in the general standings.
For Gaudu, the win was particularly special as it came through a tactical call made during the stage. Initially considering riding in support of Pedersen, he was urged by his teammate Stefan Küng to back himself for the sprint. The decision paid off as he surged clear in the final moments, sealing a morale-boosting victory for his team.
Vingegaard’s squad, meanwhile, faced an unexpected crisis before the start when their mechanics discovered that several race bikes had been stolen overnight. The incident forced a swift response to prepare spare equipment in time for the start, while local police launched an investigation. The disruption added to an already challenging opening week for the team.
Compounding matters, the team was dealt another blow with the withdrawal of Axel Zingle. The French rider, competing in his first Grand Tour with the squad, was injured in the rain-hit crash on stage two and was deemed unfit to continue. His absence reduces Vingegaard’s support options as the race heads deeper into the mountains.
Despite adversity, the defending champion continues to show composure under pressure. With Gaudu and Ciccone breathing down his neck, the battle for the red jersey promises to intensify in the coming stages.
