David Gaudu takes win on tough day for leader Vingegaard

In a thrilling showdown on the challenging uphill finish of Stage 3 in the Spanish Vuelta, David Gaudu claimed a stunning victory by expertly navigating a tight final turn, edging out rival Mads Pedersen.

Despite a tough day marked by setbacks, Jonas Vingegaard held on to the leader’s red jersey, maintaining his overall lead in the race.

The 135-kilometer stage unfolded in the scenic Italian Alps near Turin, testing riders with a demanding uphill sprint into Ceres. Gaudu’s perfect timing and tactical brilliance at the final bend secured his win, while Vingegaard, the race favorite, finished third after being forced wide in the closing meters. The day was tough for Vingegaard and Team Visma Lease-a-Bike, who faced a series of hurdles. Overnight, several bicycles were stolen from the team’s mechanics’ equipment truck, triggering an investigation by Italian police. Adding to the team’s challenges, support rider Axel Zingle withdrew from the race due to a shoulder injury sustained in a crash.

Despite these difficulties, Vingegaard praised his team’s resilience and the mechanics’ swift efforts to prepare the riders for the stage. “The team showed incredible strength today. Losing our bikes was a huge blow, but everyone stepped up to keep us moving forward,” Vingegaard said.

The stage’s breakaway featured four riders, eventually whittled down to Sean Quinn, who was caught with 19 kilometers remaining. Looking ahead, Stage 4 promises to push competitors even harder, covering 206 kilometers through the mountains from Susa, Italy, into Voiron, France.

VIDEO: 2025 La Vuelta Stage 3 Highlights

2025 La Vuelta Stage 3 Results

1   Gaudu David Groupama-FDJ 180 02:59:24
2   Pedersen Mads Lidl-Trek 130 + 00
3   Vingegaard Jonas Team Visma | Lease a Bike 95 + 00
4   Ciccone Giulio Lidl-Trek 80 + 00
5   Labrosse Jordan Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team 60 + 00
6   Aular Orluis Movistar Team 45 + 00
7   Buitrago Santiago Bahrain Victorious 40 + 00
8   Bernal Egan INEOS Grenadiers 35 + 00
9   Koerdt Bjoern Team Picnic PostNL 30 + 00
10   Hindley Jai Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe 25 + 00