On the third day of racing in Andalucia the racing was as unexpected as the organizers wished for when they made this route. Five stages full of climbs, but without real mountains (besides tomorrow's Alto del Purche, but it is in the start of the stage). Today saw a very mixed group of riders fighting for the win,
AG2R Citroën Team's
Stan Dewulf was in the decisive split and could smell the victory, which slipped through his fingers when Magnus Sheffield attacked on his way to his first professional win.
« I have mixed feelings. I am very satisfied with my form for my return to racing this season, but a little disappointed to miss out on the victory.You never know how the sensations are going to be after an altitude training course so I am reassured. It gives me confidence for the first classic races that are coming. That’s what we came here to build towards with the team," Dewulf said after the stage.
"Ben O’Connor is well placed in the general classification and we will work for him during the last two stages so that he gets the best possible result." O'Connor came to Andalucia as the team leader and is currently in 14th place in the overall classification 19 seconds behind race leader Alessandro Covi. With the gaps very small, it is all to play out in the remaining stages.
Dewulf has seen here his only opportunity to grab a stage win, if the stages are raced as expected, but takes motivation of this strong result on a hard day towards the classics. His goals lie in the cobbled classics where he is set to be a key rider in AG2R's block, which will have Oliver Naesen and Greg van Avermaet as the other two crucial pieces that will hunt results.
