Victory and overall lead for Rein Taaramäe at the Vuelta

In the 3rd stage of this year’s Vuelta a España, the 34-year-old Estonian rode his CUBE Litening C:68X to victory and now starts for Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux as the overall leader in a Grand Tour for the first time.

The 220-kilometre stage from Santo Domingo de Silos to the mountain finish at Picón Blanco offered the first mountain tests in this year’s Tour of Spain. Shortly after the start, an attack led to the formation of an eight-man breakaway group around the eventual winner Taaramäe. In the meantime, the group had built up a lead of more than 9 minutes, which steadily decreased until the final climb and made for an exciting finale. The 7.6 kilometre long climb with an average of 9.1% up the 1,495 metre high Picon Blanco, which was covered by fog, demanded everything from the riders.

But Taaramäe remained calm despite the approaching peloton and accelerated on the climb until he left his last competitors behind. He reached the finish line with a 21-second lead.

Almost ten years to the day after his first stage win at the Tour of Spain, the 34-year-old was unbeatable again this time and took the stage win for Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux, who can thus record their 2nd victory at a Grand Tour.

Related articles:

Triumph in the Holy Land Young pilot successful in France FOCUS JAM²: Two-time German E-MTB Champion 2019 Sina Frei wins her second U23 World Championship Cube triathlete Frederic Funk wins Challenge St. Pölten 70.3 D. van Poppel on the podium in Dwars door het Hageland Three German cyclo-cross championship titles on the CUBE Cross Race C:62 A shower of medals at the national cyclocross championships