Miguel Ángel López hits back to take race lead on stage three of Ruta del Sol 2021
The Colombian took the race lead from Ethan Hayter on the uphill finish to Villarrodrigo
Miguel Ángel López struck back with a stage victory and the race lead on day three of the Ruta del Sol 2021.
The Colombian Grand Tour contender, riding his first season with Movistar, missed out to Britain’s Ethan Hayter on the second stage, but came back with a victory the following day on a stiff uphill finish.
López kicked off the attacking in the final 20km of the stage, raced from Bease de Segura to Villarrodrigo over 176km, bridging across to the breakaway and kicking once more in the final 400m to take the stage.
The 27-year-old took victory by just two seconds ahead of Antwan Tolhoek (Jumbo-Visma) after five hours of racing, but he’d done enough to distance Hayter and move into the race lead.
López had built up a collection of stage race victories in recent years, most recently winning the 2019 Volta a Catalunya overall.
But his dreams of Grand Tour victory have not yet become a reality, after he finished third in both the 2018 Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España while riding for Astana.
Last year López looked certain to take a podium finish in the Tour de France, but he slipped back to sixth place on the final time trial, just one day from Paris.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
For 2021, he has now switched to Spanish WorldTour squad Movistar and will be leading the team at the Tour de France this summer.
This year he has raced relatively little with the Tour de Romandie his only stage race so far before the Ruta del Sol.
>>> Strava stats reveal the huge efforts behind stage 11 of the Giro d’Italia 2021
López finished 35th overall in Switzerland, his best stage finish was 20th on the prologue time trial.
Ruta del Sol 2021 stage three, Beas de Segura to Villarodrigo
- Miguel Ángel López (Col) Movistar, 5-03-26
- Antwan Tolhoek (Ned) Jumbo-Visma, at 2s
- James Piccoli (Can) Israel Start-Up Nation, at 6s
General classification after stage three
1. Miguel Ángel López (Col) Movistar
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Alex Ballinger is editor of BikeBiz magazine, the leading publication for the UK cycle industry, and is the former digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter, then as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output, and now as the editor of BikeBiz. Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) Alex covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers. Away from the desk, Alex can be found racing time trials, riding BMX and mountain bikes, or exploring off-road on his gravel bike. He’s also an avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.
-
Claims against bankrupt Sir Bradley Wiggins’s estate double to £2m
Wiggins’s efforts to pursue money through the courts have been paused
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Prologo Nago R4 PAS 3DMSS saddle review: Lightweight, supportive and not as costly as you may think
Weighing just 150g, the saddle uses 3D printing technology alongside nano carbon rails to keep comfort high and weight low.
By Andy Turner Published
-
British super-talent Cat Ferguson set for pro debut this weekend
Eighteen-year-old to race La Choralis Fourmies in first Movistar outing
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'A big waste of time’: Inside the stage race with only one stage
The Ruta del Sol went from five to one stage thanks to farmer protests, creating an odd situation
By Adam Becket Published
-
Spanish stage race reduced to single 5km time trial due to farmer protests
The five-day Ruta del Sol was won by Maxim van Gils on Friday, beating Juan Ayuso
By Adam Becket Published
-
Nairo Quintana’s former doctor to face trial for doping offences
Fredy Alexander Gonzales Torres is accused of "possession of a substance or method prohibited for use by an athlete" during the 2020 Tour de France
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Opinion: There will never be another bike rider like Annemiek van Vleuten
The flying Dutchwoman could almost win it all, but now her era has almost ended, she should be remembered as the greatest
By Adam Becket Published
-
Will Barta's Canyon bike snaps in Giro d'Italia stage 10 crash
Movistar rider was caught up in incident in sodden day at Giro d'Italia
By Adam Becket Published
-
Alejandro Valverde to return to racing with new Movistar gravel squad
Spanish veteran will pin on numbers in his first ever gravel race at ‘La Indomable’ in Spain on 23 April
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Women’s WorldTour calendar 'a mess' and 'a nonsense' says Movistar boss
The UCI must invest in the bottom of the pyramid to ensure the sport’s future says Sebastián Unzué
By Owen Rogers Published