Landa wins again to extend Vuelta a Burgos lead

Mikel Landa sealed his second stage win of the 2017 Vuelta a Burgos with a superb climbing display in Spain.

Landa surged away from David de la Cruz (Quick-Step Floors) in the final 300 metres of the gruelling third stage to take a dominant win, besting his fellow countryman by nine seconds and extending his overall lead out to 27.

The 27 year old always looked in control on the final eight kilometre climb up to Picon Blanco and, when he attacked once team-mate Gianni Moscon pulled off, only De la Cruz was able to follow him.

The pair worked in tandem to distance the three riders behind – Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana), Jaime Roson (Caja Rural – Seguros) and Enric Mas (Quick-Step Floors) – and when it came down to the crunch Landa packed too big a punch for De la Cruz.

“It was a hard finish. We almost reached the top together. He is a tough rival – I know him well and I have a lot of respect for him. I thought he was going to win!”, said Landa. “It was a very hard finish, but a beautiful one. I discovered it today and I liked it a lot.”

https://youtu.be/cMCpPIttQ54

Vuelta a Burgos 2017 – stage 3 results (Oja Guareña – Picón Blanco):

1	Mikel Landa (Team Sky)	4:36:40
2	David De La Cruz (Quick-Step Floors)	+09”
3	Enric Mas (Quick-Step Floors)	+41”
4	Jaime Roson (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA)	+47”
5	Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana)	+55”
6	Igor Anton (Dimension Data)	+01’06”
7	Merhawi Kudus (Dimension Data)	+01’24”
8	Gianni Moscon (Team Sky)	+01’27”
9	Jetse Bol (Manzana Postobon)	+01’33”
10	Sergio Pardilla (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA)	+01’34”

General classification after stage 3:

1	Mikel Landa (Team Sky)	11:41:32
2	David De La Cruz (Quick-Step Floors)	+27”
3	Enric Mas (Quick-Step Floors)	+46”
4	Jaime Roson (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA)	+54”
5	Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana)	+01’02”
6	Igor Anton (Dimension Data)	+01’13”
7	Merhawi Kudus (Dimension Data)	+01’31”
8	Gianni Moscon (Team Sky)	+01’34”
9	Jetse Bol (Manzana Postobon)	+01’40”
10	Sergei Chernetski (Astana)	+01’42”