UAE festival continues: Wellens wins stage 3 of the Ruta del Sol

The 3rd stage of the Ruta del Sol was characterised by very strong winds, which forced the race organisation to shorten the section by 500 metres and bring the finish forward for safety reasons.

Large breakaway group on the 3rd stage of the Ruta del Sol

After the start, a 21-man breakaway group broke away and dominated the rest of the stage. The decision in the battle for the stage win was made around one and a half kilometres before the finish. Wellens launched a decisive attack and left his rivals behind on the final climb of the day. For the Belgian, who rode for Lotto Soudal last year, it was his first victory in the jersey of UAE Team Emirates.

Engelhardt in the top group

Behind him, Pierre Latour (TotalEnergies) came in ahead of Samuele Battistella (Astana Qazaqstan Team) took second place. The German Felix Engelhardt (Team Jayco-AlUla), who was also in the leading group of the day, crossed the finish line in 15th place, 42 seconds behind Wellens.

In the group of favourites, there were no attacks on Tadej Pogacar on the final climb of the stage, who confidently maintained his lead in the overall standings of the Tour of Andalusia.

Ruta del Sol - Result 3rd stage

1. Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates) 3:47:12
2. Pierre Latour (TotalEnergies) +0:14
3. Samuele Battistella (Astana Qazaqstan Team) +0:15
4. Connor Swift (Ineos Grenadiers) +0:15
5. Laurenz Rex (Intermarche-Circus-Wanty) +0:15
6. Davide Bais (Eolo Kometa) +0:18
7. Edoardo Zambanini (Bahrain-Victorious) +0:18
8. Cyril Barthe (Burgos-BH) +0:26
9. Erik Fetter (Eolo Kometa) +0:28
10. Gorka Izagirre (Movistar) +0:28

The overall standings of the Ruta del Sol

1. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) 12:35:57
2. Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain-Victorious) +0:48
3. Mikel Landa (Bahrain-Victorious) +0:52
4. Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos Grenadiers) +0:52
5. Enric Mas (Movistar) +1:47
6. Tao Geoghegan Hart (Ineos Grenadiers) +2:12
7. Jose Manuel Diaz Gallego (Burgos-BH) +2:19
8. Gorka Izagirre (Movistar) +2:21
9. Damiano Caruso (Bahrain-Victorious) +2:22
10. Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates +2:26

>>Ruta del Sol 2023: All stages at a glance

>> Five facts about Tadej Pogacar

On Saturday, the Ruta del Sol continues with stage 4, which leads over 164.8 kilometres from Olvera to Iznajar.