Javi Serrano clings on to the podium in the heat of the demanding Herrera del Duque castle
Vuelta a Extremadura
Stage 3: Castuera – Herrera del Duque (152 km)
Change of leadership in the Extremadura round. The arrival at the castle of Herrera del Duque brought, as expected, significant differences in its steep final part, on a cobbled road with 20% average. The stage victory went to the Ethiopian Mulu Kinfe Hailemichael (Caja Rural), while the leader Javi Serrano finished seventh, 34″ behind the winner, and was able to hold on to third place in the provisional general classification.
The day was disputed under an intense heat in which the riders had to manage a multitude of steep climbs. A breakaway of seven riders who got on very well together managed to open up a gap of 3’00”. The EOLO-KOMETA Cycling Team, missing the role that would have played this Friday the Asturian Ramón Fernández, worked for many kilometres to maintain control and protect the options of Serrano.
At 32 kilometres the gap was at 2’11”, a moment of some doubts in the peloton. Finally, the pace was revived, and at the front there were some episodes of collaborative disunity and some attacks that left the advantage at around thirty seconds with ten kilometres to go. There were some movements from the peloton, but it was in the final three kilometres that the stage and the general classification were decided with an attack by Mulu Hailemichael and the Frenchman Romaric Forques. Serrano, at his own pace, defended brilliantly.
Javi Serrano is in third place overall, 38 seconds behind the yellow: “It was a very hard day. In addition to the high pace that was set from the start in search of the breakaway, the 45 degrees that we got up to wore us out a lot. On the last climb I gave everything, but it was impossible for me to follow Mulu. I can only thank each and every one of my team-mates. They have done an amazing job, taking care of me at all times and keeping the race under control. I am very grateful to them, because their work was incredible and in very tough conditions. It says a lot about their commitment to your cause, for example, that a team-mate gives you their water bottles on a stage in these temperatures. I can’t thank them enough for everything they have done for me today”.
The Vuelta a Extremadura arrives in the province of Cáceres with a 152 kilometre stage between Miajadas and Garrovillas de Alconétar which, with an apparently flat profile, hides some traps in the area of the riberos. Not forgetting that it will be another very hot day.
