The sprinters got their first shot in the 153km third stage of the Vuelta a España and Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) took full advantage.

In another blistering hot day, the Milan-San Remo champion sent a message loud and clear to his would-be rivals for the upcoming world championships, taking a sprint victory ahead of three faces he’s expecting to see next month on the roads of Madrid.

“To win ahead of three of best sprinters in the world is very satisfying,” Petacchi said moments after scoring his 13th career Vuelta victory. “No one could come around my sprint and no one could beat me.”

Those three faces Petacchi might be seeing September 25 were Erik Zabel (T-Mobile), Tom Boonen (Quick Step) and Thor Hushovd (Crédit Agricole), who finished in that order behind the cool Italian, who tried in vain to stave off the heat.

It was a hot time in the old town of Montoro

Photo: Graham Watson

“I don’t do well in the heat, but once the race started it was better,” said Petacchi, who won in 3 hours, 48 minutes, 41 seconds. “I’m still lacking a little rhythm. I trained hard in July and August, but I crashed (at HEW Cyclassics) and hurt a finger, so I haven’t been racing much.”

Key to Petacchi’s win in the undulating course across Spain’s Sierra Morena was his Fassa Bortolo train. The silver train smothered a few late attacks and drove it down a narrow, congested sprint finish.

Petacchi shot clear with 150 meters to go, with Zabel and Boonen unable to come around.

With the victory, Petacchi wins major posturing points ahead of the Madrid world championships, where the sprinters are expected to rule.

Hoste and Van Heeswijk sweat under the Spanish sun

Photo: Graham Watson

Early break

Riders were seeking shade in Córdoba for the start of the third stage. Temperatures soared once again into the high 90s (even higher in some sections) and the racers were dousing their heads with water and filling up their bottles.

Not everyone was complaining, however. Uwe Peschel, the veteran German on Gerolsteiner, was soaking up the rays.

“It’s been cold and rainy for so long in Germany, so I am enjoying this,” he said before the start. “I like the heat, but it’s always rainy in the north of Spain in Asturias, so I want to make the most of this.”

The 196 starting riders pushed down the Guadalquivir Valley at a brisk 44.3kph to open the first hour of the race. On the day’s lone rated climb, the Cat. 3 Alto de la Sierra de Cardeña, Joaquin Rodriguez (Saunier Duval) slipped ahead of Freddy González (Relax-Fuenlabrada) and Leonardo Bertagnolli (Cofidis) to win the points. Bertagnolli, a winner on Sunday, forfeited the jersey to Rodriguez.

Two riders would abandon along the roasted route, with Jussi Veikkanen (FDJeux) calling it a day at 55km and Italian sprinter Angelo Furlan (Domina Vacanze) abandoning at 68km.

Spanish rider Javier Pascual Rodríguez (Comunidad Valenciana) went on the attack at 70km, and no one was too keen to have to work that hard. Pascual Rodríguez held a four-minute advantage at 115km, but the gap slowly started to dwindle under the steady pressure of the sprinter teams.

Pascual Rodríguez was reeled in at 127km and José Enrique Gutiérrez (Phonak) fell for the second day in a row. Others to crash included Franck Renier (Bouygues Telecom) and Rolf Aldag (T-Mobile). All were able to finish.

Aldag's kit is a little the worse for wear after a spill

Photo: Graham Watson

Thomas Ziegler (Gerolsteiner) tried his luck at 138km, but he was brought back with about 6km to go. Most of the peloton came through with the sprinters, keeping Brad McGee (FDJeux) in the leader’s jersey.

Not everyone impressed

Petacchi seemed especially pleased with his victory.

“My team did a good job and I made a good sprint,” said Petacchi. “There’s still a long time to the world championships, almost one month, so I am confident I will be gaining my rhythm. The most important thing in this Vuelta is to get strong for the world’s.”

Petacchi enjoyed a perfect set-up, with Zabel winning the fight for his wheel. Boonen tried to come around on the left side, but Petacchi won rather handily.

FDJeux works for race leader McGee

Photo: Graham Watson

While the Fassa Bortolo train looked dominant, perhaps it was because there’s no team here strong enough to try to knock them off the tracks.

Boonen, for one, was the first to suggest that Petacchi isn’t as strong as he looks.

“A good Tom Boonen wouldn’t have finished third today,” the blond Belgian said. “I’m not so impressed with Petacchi’s form. I am only at 75 percent right now and I don’t have my train here. I had to make my own way the final 500 meters, which really cost me some energy.”

Hushovd, meanwhile, admitted he was no threat for the victory.

“I don’t do well in the heat. My legs just died on me today,” said the Norwegian national champion. “I need to really be careful about staying hydrated. I hope to get stronger as the race wears on.”

The sprinters should get another shot in Tuesday’s long 232km stage, a distance that’s almost as long as what they’ll see in about a month’s time in Madrid.

Results - Stage 3
1. Alessandro Petacchi (I), Fassa Bortolo, 153.3km in 3:48:41
2. Erik Zabel (G), T-Mobile
3. Tom Boonen (B), Quickstep
4. Thor Hushovd (Nor), Credit Agricole
5. Giosuè Bonomi (I), Lampre
6. Max Van Heeswijk (Nl), Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team
7. M. A. Martin Perdiguero (Sp), Phonak
8. Tom Steels (B), Davitamon-Lotto
9. Marco Velo (I), Fassa Bortolo
10. Patrick Calcagni (Swi), Liquigas-Bianchi

FullResults

Overall
1. Bradley Mcgee (Aus), Francaise des Jeux, 8:50:32
2. Leonardo Bertagnolli (I), Cofidis, at 0:32
3. Juan Antonio Flecha (Sp), Fassa Bortolo, at 0:39
4. Joaquin Rodriguez (Sp), Saunier Duval, at 0:41
5. Angel Vicioso (Sp), Liberty Seguros, at 0:41
6. Francisco Javier Vila (Sp), Lampre, at 0:42
7. Unai Yus (Sp), Bouygues Telecom, at 0:53
8. Rik Verbrugghe (B), Quickstep, at 1:02
9. Denis Menchov (Rus), Rabobank, at 1:05
10. Carlos Sastre (Sp), CSC, at 1:12

FullResults

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