Francesco Failli and Clàudia Galicia make it a double in Andújar

The Italian and the Catalan claim their second stage victory

The third stage of this Andalucía Bike Race presented by Caja Rural Jaén served as a transition between Jaén and Córdoba and saw the second victory in both categories go to Francesco Failli (ASD CICLI TADDEI) and Clàudia Galicia (Megamo Factory Team) respectively.

The 69.8- kilometer stage with 2,119 meters of climbing offered great visuals. The big bunch in both the men’s and women’s categories rode together from the start up to kilometer 20. There, the Catalan racer, Clàudia Galícia, started to gain ground over her direct rivals, Mariske Strauss (CST Postnl Bafang MTB Racing Team), Eva Lechner (Trinx Factory Team), and Lea Davison (USA Cycling And Team Twenty20).

In the men's category however, the script was different, as there were five leading men today. After opening up a gap with the main peloton, Tiago Ferreira (DMT Racing Team By Marconi Project's), Ben Zwiehoff together with his teammate Daniel Geismayr (Team Centurion - Vaude), Leandre Bouchard (Pivot Cycles - OTE) and Francesco Failli (ASD CICLI TADDEI) managed to widen that gap in the stage’s final part until they reached the finish line in Andújar.

In the women's category, Clàudia Galicia continued with her infernal pace until she soloed across the finish line, thereby taking her second stage and consolidating her position in the lead. Racing in chase, the South African, Mariske Strauss (CST POSTNL BAFANG MTB RACING TEAM), finished more than two minutes back. Italian racer Eva Lechner (Trinx Factory Team) crossed the line four minutes down from the winner.

Stage classification:

STAGE 3 - Male

1- Francesco Failli (ASD CICLI TADDEI) 02:47:05

2- Tiago Ferreira (DMT Racing Team By Marconi Project's) 02:47:05

3- Leandre Bouchard (Pivot Cycles - OTE) 02:47:05

General Classification

1- Fabian Rabensteiner (Team Trek - Pirelli) 06:50:12

2- Francesco Failli (ASD CICLI TADDEI) 06:51:52

3- Ben Zwiehoff (Team Centurion - Vaude) 06:52:40

Francesco Failli after crossing the finish line: "I was already familiar with this stage, so I knew we would go hard from the start, which is what happened. After riding in a big group, four of us racers made the selection going into the final part and I was able to win the sprint. It was a very strange sprint because the turn was close to the finish line and the first rider into the turn would win. I don't know tomorrow's stage, so we'll see what happens".

Behind him, the Portuguese rider, Tiago Ferreira, was back in good spirits after yesterday's crash. "I have some pain, but we have to take it day by day. I felt good today, but Failli was very strong in the sprint. I don't have much to lose, so I decided to go all out from the start to try and deliver my teammates to the stage’s finish with fresh legs because we had a feeling it might be a sprint."

Stage classification:

STAGE 3 - Women

1- Clàudia Galicia (Megamo Factory Team) 03:20:15

2- Mariske Strauss (CST POSTNL BAFANG MTB RACING TEAM) 03:22:42

3- Eva Lechner (Trinx Factory Team) 03:24:33

Overall ranking

1- Clàudia Galicia (Megamo Factory Team) 08:14:44

2- Eva Lechner (Trinx Factory Team) 08:21:42

3- Lea Davison (USA Cycling and Team Twenty20) 08:23:10

After taking her second stage victory, Clàudia Galicia revealed the key to the third stage: "It was a very hard stage, but very beautiful. I'm very happy, but there's still lots to do. The stage the day after tomorrow is very long; we are only midway through the race. We have to take it day by day. Today I tried to be consistent, to manage the nerves and tension at the start, and to be strong by the end. Today, fortunately, went well."

Tomorrow, Stage 4 in Córdoba province

We return to Priego de Córdoba in a completely renewed stage in comparison with the one we did in 2013. Even though the stage has very little km, it will probably be a lot harder than what it actually looks because you will climb more than 2.000 meters in long uphills. The stage differs in three long climbs, one at the start, another one mid stage, and one to end this journey with a lot of difference in level that’s approximately one kilometer long. It will end with a last downhill, to help you catch your breath before facing up a pretty fast zone that takes you back to the surroundings of Priego.