The third stage of the Vuelta a Burgos was won by Léo Bisiaux. The 20-year-old Frenchman broke away in the final kilometer from an elite group that also included Giulio Ciccone, Giulio Pellizzari, Lorenzo Fortunato, and Isaac Del Toro. Bisiaux struck a double blow, as he also took over the lead in the general classification.
The third stage of the Tour of Burgos featured another tough finale. After the first 110 kilometers over undulating terrain, the last 50 kilometers included three serious climbs. First, two warm-ups with the Puerto de Oceka (2.7 km at 8.9%) and the Alto de las Campas (6.2 km at 3%), followed by the longer Puerto de Orduña (8 km at 7.6%). After the summit, there were still over 20 kilometers to the finish in Valpuesta, where the final 2.5 kilometers gradually ascended.
San Pedro de Cardena) Valpuesta)De Pestel in breakaway, Landa attempts to bridge
There were many attacks in the opening phase, but initially no one managed to open a gap. Eventually, six riders got clear. Belgian Sander De Pestel (Decathlon AG2R) was the only foreigner among five Spaniards: Daniel Cava (Burgos BH), Gorka Sorrarain (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Hugo Aznar (Equipo Kern Pharma), Iker Mintegi (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Mario Silva (Illes Balears Arabay). Their maximum advantage was nearly six minutes.
Before the finale really started, the gap had already been reduced to less than two minutes. Meanwhile, the break split apart on the Puerto de Oceka. De Pestel and Sorrarain proved to have the strongest legs and remained together. The duo even extended their lead slightly over the peloton, where a counterattack emerged on the Alto de Las Campas. None other than Mikel Landa tried to bridge to the leaders.
Ciccone and Bisiaux ride away
The climber from Soudal Quick-Step, making his comeback in Burgos after his serious crash in the Giro d'Italia, was soon caught and dropped from the peloton on the Puerto de Orduña. Lidl-Trek pushed the pace hard. This also caused GC leader Roger Adrià to drop out about four kilometers from the summit. Shortly afterward, Giulio Ciccone launched an attack. The Italian brought young riders Giulio Pellizzari and Léo Bisiaux along with him.
For the latter, it was still not fast enough, so the 20-year-old from Decathlon AG2R launched an acceleration. Pellizzari couldn't follow, but Ciccone could. The two rode straight to De Pestel and dropped the Belgian immediately. The gap with other favorites remained limited, though. Lorenzo Fortunato, Pellizzari, and eventually Isaac Del Toro also managed to join the move.
Bisiaux’s first pro victory
Thus, five riders started the last twenty kilometers together. The chasing group, which included Egan Bernal among others, was unable to close the gap in the finale, leaving Ciccone, Bisiaux, Fortunato, Pellizzari, and Del Toro to contest the finish. The five cooperated well but started watching each other in the final kilometers.
Bisiaux took advantage of this moment of hesitation and launched a powerful attack. He immediately opened a nice gap and held it all the way to the finish. For Bisiaux — the 2023 junior cyclocross world champion in Hoogerheide — this was his first pro victory. He also took over the leader’s jersey from Adrià.
Vuelta a Burgos| Rank | Rider | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 04:19:44 | |
| 2 | + 09 | |
| 3 | " | |
| 4 | " | |
| 5 | " | |
| 6 | + 23 | |
| 7 | " | |
| 8 | " | |
| 9 | " | |
| 10 | + 39 |
