ALTO DE HAZALLANAS, Spain (AFP) — Alberto Contador took a firm grip of the Ruta del Sol in Andalusia after storming to a clear victory in Friday’s third stage to extend his overall lead over Chris Froome to 27 seconds.
The 157.6-kilometer stage from Motril to Alto de Hazallanas was the first summit finish for either Contador or Froome this season, and the Spaniard was too strong for the 2013 Tour de France winner on the steep incline.
Contador announced his intention to retire at the end of 2016 season earlier this week, he but wants to become the first man since Marco Pantani in 1998 to win both the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France in the same season before he bows out.
The 32-year-old looked in fine form as he broke clear at the start of the challenging eight-kilometer final climb to leave the competition in his wake and seal the victory.
Froome was not even in the initial chasing group when Contador attacked, but got stronger as the climb went on to finish 19 seconds behind in second.
France’s Romain Bardet was third, 1:41 back on Contador. Second place was enough to move Froome up to second in the general classification, 1:32 ahead of Benat Intxausti, who rolled in fourth on the day.
Saturday’s fourth and penultimate stage also includes a summit finish at the end of a 199.8km ride from Maracena to Alto de las Allanadas.
The post Contador extends overall Ruta del Sol lead with stage 3 mountaintop win appeared first on VeloNews.com.
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