Stage 3 of Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2025 – the popular race in Catalonian territory – would take the riders into the challenging mountain territory of northern Catalonia. The race organizers of Volta a Catalunya had chosen a 218.6-kilometer route from Viladecans to La Molina. The route would feature four categorized climbs (Category 2, 3, HC, and 1). 

Having left the surreal thinking and surroundings of Salvador Dali hometown Figueres behind, the riders gathered at the start line in Viladecans for the start of stage 3, which would hopefully witness the riders engage in creative and inspiring efforts on their bikes. 

The action was intense from the beginning of stage 3, and it did not take long before a quartet of optimists established a viable breakaway. The riders involved were Bruno Armirail (Decathlon-AG2R-La Mondiale Team), Lorenzo Germani (Groupama-FDJ), Alex Molenaar (Caja Rural – Seguros RGA), and Mats Wenzel (Equipo Kern Pharma).

The front group was first to reach the summit of Coll d’Estenalles (Category 2, 13.3 km, 3.9%) after fifty-five uphill kilometers on their bikes.

French climbing ace Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious) suffered a mechanical problem with 155 kilometers remaining, but it did not take him long to return to the peloton. At this point the front quartet had fought its way to a time advantage of more than six minutes over the peloton.

Riders from Team Lotto and UAE Team Emirates were setting the pace in the main peloton.

The riders in Volta a Catalunya pressed on in hilly uphill territory. When 85 kilometers were left of today’s mountain challenge, the lead of the front quartet had been reduced to 04:40 minutes

The situation was status quo when the riders reached the Coll de la Batallona (Category 3; 7 km; 3.4%) with seventy-five kilometers left of today’s race. Riders from UAE Team Emirates, Team Lotto, Lidl-Trek, and Ineos-Grenadiers were leading the main peloton and controlling the chase effort with the breakaway quartet more than four minutes up the road.

Wenzel was first to reach the summit. The Dutch rider was followed by Armirail and Molenaar. There had been no interesting developments on the climb.

The riders now approached the Coll de la Creueta (Hors Categorie; 20.3 km; 5.1%). 

Armirail attacked from the front quartet on the climb. The three other breakaway artists initiated their chase effort while the main peloton was spearheaded by riders from UAE Team Emirates and Team Lotto. 

Team Lotto took control when ten kilometers remained of the long and winding twenty-kilometer climb, which was beyond category. Armirail had an advantage of 02:30 minutes when nine kilometers remained of the tiring climb.

Pavel Sivakov and the rest of UAE Team Emirates had replaced Team Lotto at the front of the peloton when five kilometers of the climb and 38 kilometers of the stage remained.

Armirail was the first rider to reach the summit of Coll de la Creueta. What an admirable and courageous solo effort from the Frenchman from Team Decathlon-AG2R. Germani, Molenaar, and Wenzel reached the summit approximately two minutes later.

Fellow Frenchman Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious) was less fortunate when he crashed in the feed zone while trying to refuel.

The speed was intense on the descent as teams were eager to prevent further attacks while setting up their general classifications for a battle on the climb to La Molina. UAE Team Emirates riders were leading the peloton, while Armirail was further ahead. The aspirations of Armirail’s three fellow attackers had been derailed as they had been swallowed by the chasing peloton on the fast descent.  

Armirail entered the La Molina climb with a lead of forty seconds. Pavel Sivakov had been replaced by teammates at the front of the peloton, and they were taking seconds off Armirail’s advantage. Geraint Thomas joined the chase effort for Ineos-Grenadiers. The Welshman was working hard to improve his form while helping his teammates in the Volta a Catalunya race.

Ten kilometers remained of stage 3 and Armirail had almost been reeled in by the chasers. There would be no stage victory celebrations for the Decathlon-AG2R rider after today’s stage.

Sepp Kuss attacked for Team Visma-Lease a Bike. Ben O’Connor countered for Team Jayco-Alula. They were reeled in by the chasing reduced peloton, while riders were dropping off the back of the group.

George Bennett attacked. Lorenzo Fortunato responded as did Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates). Red Bull – Bora – Hansgrohe were pulling in the reduced peloton to keep the attackers at bay.

Soler, Kuss and Fortunato had a lead of ten seconds when just 1.5 kilometers remained. The speed was fast on the climb and there was no time for tactical pauses.

The front trio was caught in the final kilometer and Primoz Roglic attacked for his Red Bull – Bora – Hansgrohe team. Juan Ayuso responded for UAE Team Emirates.

Juan Ayuso was the first rider to cross the finish line. The Spanish rider was closely followed by Primoz Roglic. Mikel Landa crossed the finish line two seconds later and completed the stage podium for Soudal-QuickStep. Lenny Martinez finished fourth, despite his misfortune during today’s stage 3.

Juan Ayuso leads the general classification of Volta a Catalunya 2025 before Thursday’s stage 4.

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