After obtaining two third places in the sprint, Xavier Quevedo finally took revenge on the sprinters who had beaten him in the first two stages of the Vuelta al Tachira, first Colon and then Rajovic. Quevedo yesterday detached them by completing the breakaway together with five teammates and in the end managing to distance the group by almost three minutes. Now the 30-year-old Venezuelan leads the overall standings, the points standings and the intermediate sprints standings.
At the finish line in Barinitas, after 132 kilometers of racing, Quevedo preceded Abreu, Espinal, Mendoza, Rios and Araujo. The group reached 2 ‘and 45 ”beaten in the sprint by Camargo.
For the Italians a black day with three retreats: Leonardo Marchiori and Filippo Tagliani did not even start due to intestinal problems, while Davide Baldaccini had to stop for stomach pains.
Stefano Gandin finished in the group in 14th place, while Giulio Masotto was 120th at 8 ‘and 32 ”behind the winner.
Today is scheduled the fourth stage from Lagunillas to Merida of 105 kilometers with a GP of the Mountain, two intermediate sprints and two sprints with the bonus prize.
This is the order of arrival of the third stage: 1) Xavier Quevedo (Venezuela Pais Futuro) who completes the 132 kilometers of the route in 3 hours 13 ′ 19 ”; 2) Daniel Abreu (JHS Grupo Moya); 3) Alcides Espinal (JB Calzado Power Arroz Zulia); 4) Mendoza; 5) Rios; 6) Araujo, all with the same time as the winner; 7) Camargo at 2’45 “; 8) Colon; 9) Restrepo; 10) Merchan; 14) GANDIN all with the same tempo as Camargo; 120) MASOTTO at 8’32 “.
General classification: 1) Quevedo; 2) Open to 18”; 3) Spinel at 20”; 4) Mendoza at 30”; 5) Araujo at 1′; 6) Rivers st; 7) Colon at 2’53; 8) Merchandise at 3’06”; 9) Nava at 3’07”; 10) Mora at 3’08”; 83) GANDIN at 5’47”; 98) MASOTTO at 11’03”.
CLAUDIO ALMANZI
