Sergio Higuita celebrates his stage victory and the lead in Poland. /
The Colombian prevailed over Pello Bilbao in an agonizing wall, while Mikel Landa reappears to defend last year’s victory
Seventeen days before the Vuelta a España begins in Utrecht and most of the candidates to be ahead in the general classification are divided between Poland and Burgos. The third stage of the World Tour race ended with the victory of Sergio Higuita (Bora) in a final wall that became agonizing for the entire peloton. The Colombian, who celebrated his 25th birthday by pedaling, was the one who best managed the forces to prevail ahead of Pello Bilbao (Bahrain) and Quinten Hermans (Intermarché). Richard Carapaz, who is not known if he will still be in the Vuelta, measured poorly, fell short of strength and was able to narrowly enter the same group as the winner.
There are still four stages to go before reaching Krakow and the first defense of Higuita’s leadership will begin this Tuesday on a 180-kilometre mid-mountain terrain (5:00 p.m., ETB1).
Tour of Polonia, 3ª stage
1. Sergio Higuita (Bora)
5h25:462. Pello Bilbao (Bahrain)
m.t.3. Quinten Hermans (Intermarket)
m.t.4. Matteo Sobrero (Bike Exchange)
m.t.5. Quentin Pacher (Groupama)
m.t.Tower of Polonia, general
1. Sergio Higuita (Bora)
15h31:002. Pello Bilbao (Bahrain)
a 43. Quinten Hermans (Intermarket)
a 64. Ethan Hayter (Ineos)
a 10
Sivakov and López, favorites
On the other hand, the Vuelta a Burgos begins with its usual first stage ending in El Castillo de Burgos (3:00 p.m., ETB1). Mikel Landa returns to the competition with the responsibility of defending the victory he obtained last year. His main rivals will be Pavel Sivakov, Carlos Rodríguez (Ineos), Almeida (UAE), Juanpe López (Trek), Hugh Carthy (Education First) or Miguel Ángel López (Astana).
