Team Giant-Shimano had waited all week for Saturday to arrive as the third stage was the only real sprint opportunity in the Vuelta a Andalucia but the team could only manage fourth with Nikias Arndt. The young German took full responsibility for the defeat, admitting that he had been too nervous in the finale.
Nikias Arndt has sprinted to fourth in a hectic finish to stage 3 of the Ruta del Sol, after a change of plan following Luka Mezgec’s withdrawal. A fast, frantic run in to the line saw four riders lunge for the line together and it wasn’t until a while after the finish that the stage winner was finally decided, with the win going to Gerald Ciolek (MTN – Qhubeka).
Luka Mezgec did not start the third stage, after having suffered from a fever overnight. This meant the Team Giant-Shimano boys had to change their plan for the finish, being another man short in the run in to the line. Then a large crash in the final kilometres brought Daan Olivier down, leaving just Tom Veelers, Simon Geschke and Tom Dumoulin to pilot Nikias towards the finish.
“Today was the only sprint stage of the race and every team with a sprinter wanted to have a go so it was a really hectic sprint out there today,” said Nikias after the stage. “The team did a good job in keeping me out of trouble but I didn’t keep calm enough in the run in.
“Tom (Veelers) had to brake a bit in the final corner and I decided to use my speed to come around him. But this meant that I then started my sprint too early and by the line I was fading a finished fourth.
“I had good legs and Tom was still there to lead me out but I didn’t look round and went for it myself. It’s reassuring to know that the legs and the speed are there.”
Tomorrow’s final stage is another tough stage with hardly a metre of flat, and three main climbs to tackle before a fast 10km to the line in Fuengirola.
You can read our preview of the race here.
30.03: The Bueng Si Fai |
30.03: Gran Premio Miguel Indurain |
30.03: Volta Limburg Classic |
31.03: Ronde van Vlaanderen |
31.03: Ronde van Vlaanderen |
29.03 - 01.04: Ster van Zuid Limburg |
01.04: Gran Premio del Perdono |
01.04: Ronde de Mouscron |
01.04: Giro del Belvedere |
02.04: G.P. Palio del Recioto |
Jens GREWE 36 years | today |
Yuri BRIONI 23 years | today |
Pierre Henry BASSET 20 years | today |
Thomas RIBER-SELLEBJERG 37 years | today |
Vojtech HACECKY 37 years | today |
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