Remco Evenepoel put in a stunning individual time trial on the 15.2km-long course of stage 3 at the Vuelta a San Juan, racking up his first victory of the season.
The 20-year-old confirmed his favourite tag, producing a flying ride. Not even the 1200m climb of Punta Negra – which had a 7.8% average gradient – could slow down the reigning European Champion of the discipline, who stopped the clock in 19:16, a time more than half a minute faster than that of runner-up Filippo Ganna (Italy National Team).
“The time trial was short, but it felt like the longest one I did in my life because of the straight roads, even the climb felt endless”, said Evenepoel.
“I went for the win and getting it makes me happy. Today I gained time on the flat, where I could sustain a strong pace, but also on the climb, where I accelerated. This means I had good legs, which is a nice feeling so early in the season”.
Vuelta a San Juan 2020 – stage 3 results (Ullum – Punta Negra ITT):
| 1 | Remco Evenepoel (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) | 19:16 |
| 2 | Filippo Ganna (Italy) | +32” |
| 3 | Oscar Sevilla (Medellin) | +01’08” |
| 4 | Nelson Oliveira (Movistar) | +01’25” |
| 5 | Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates) | +01’26” |
| 6 | Maciej Bodnar (Bora-hansgrohe) | +01’27” |
| 7 | Alexander Evtushenko (Russia) | +01’28” |
| 8 | Colin Joyce (Rally Cycling) | +01’40” |
| 9 | Matteo Fabbro (Bora-hansgrohe) | +01’41” |
| 10 | Gavin Mannion (Rally Cycling) | +01’43” |
Vuelta a San Juan 2020 – general classification after stage 3:
| 1 | Remco Evenepoel (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) | 7:34:36 |
| 2 | Filippo Ganna (Italy) | +32” |
| 3 | Oscar Sevilla (Medellin) | +01’08” |
| 4 | Nelson Oliveira (Movistar) | +01’25” |
| 5 | Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates) | +01’26” |
| 6 | Maciej Bodnar (Bora-hansgrohe) | +01’27” |
| 7 | Alexander Evtushenko (Russia) | +01’28” |
| 8 | Colin Joyce (Rally Cycling) | +01’40” |
| 9 | Matteo Fabbro (Bora-hansgrohe) | +01’41” |
| 10 | Gavin Mannion (Rally Cycling) | +01’43” |
