Visma bikes stolen before Gaudu wins stage three

David Gaudu produced a superb sprint to win the uphill finish on the third stage of the Vuelta a Espana as Jonas Vingegaard retained the overall lead.

It was the third Vuelta stage win of the 28-year-old Frenchman’s career, and his first since 2020.

Gaudu, who was third on Sunday, outfoxed his rivals on the final corner to finish just in front of Danish pair Mads Pedersen and Vingegaard.

Groupama-FDJ rider Gaudu took a superb inside line on the tight bend and had the punch to out-drag Pedersen in the final 50 metres, with Vingegaard unable to match them.

Vingegaard collected a four-second bonus for finishing third and although Gaudu earned 10 seconds for winning and has moved level on time with the Dane, the two-time Tour de France champion retained the overall lead on count-back of the finishing places so far.

Pedersen had been strongly fancied for the 134.6km stage from San Maurizio Canavese to Ceres and Gaudu acknowledged it was a shock to beat the Lidl-Trek man.

“It was a surprise, yes, because I was thinking on the bus this morning the finish was more for Pedersen, but they said I could win today,” Gaudu said.

“The team did a very very good job and I’m very very proud to win for me and for the team. This is the best beginning of the Vuelta.”

Great Britain’s Tom Pidcock finished 23rd and remains fifth in the general classification.

Tuesday’s stage, a 206.7km medium mountain route from Susa to Voiron, is the last of four stages in Italy before the Vuelta heads to Spain.

Meanwhile, Visma’s Axel Zingle feared his bike had been stolen during Sunday’s stage while he was receiving medical treatment for the dislocated shoulder that ended his Vuelta.

The French rider was involved in the crash that sent his team leader Vingegaard to the tarmac at the foot of the final climb on a rainy day.

He remounted but dislocated his shoulder for a second time while reaching for a snack and was forced to abandon.

“I wanted to grab a gel and I dislocated my shoulder again, so I had to stop,” Zingle said.

“There was a guy there who didn’t speak English very well, so I gave him my bike while I got into the ambulance to have my shoulder put back in place.

“When I came out, my bike was gone.”

1. David Gaudu (Fra/Groupama–FDJ) 2hrs 59mins 24secs

2. Mads Pedersen (Den/Lidl-Trek) same time

3. Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Visma–Lease a Bike)

4. Giulio Ciccone (Ita/Lidl-Trek)

5. Jordan Labrosse (Fra/Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale)

6. Orluis Aular (Ven/Movistar)

7. Santiago Buitrago (Col/Bahrain Victorious

8. 4. Egan Bernal (Col/Ineos Grenadiers)

9. Bjoern Koerdt (GB/Team Picnic-Post NL)

1. Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Visma–Lease a Bike) 10hrs 55mins 36secs

2. David Gaudu (Fra/Groupama–FDJ) same time

3. Giulio Ciccone (Ita/Lidl-Trek) +8secs

4. Egan Bernal (Col/Ineos Grenadiers) +14secs

5. Tom Pidcock (GB/Q36.5 Pro Cycling) +16secs

6. Jai Hindley (Aus/Red Bull–Bora Hansgrohe) same time

7. Santiago Buitrago (Col/Bahrain Victorious)

8. Matteo Jorgenson (US/Visma–Lease a Bike)

9. Juan Ayuso (Spa/UAE Team Emirates-XRG)