Tanel Kangert benefited from strength in numbers for Astana to come out on top in the tactical battle that decided the Giro del Trentino queen stage. The Estonian launched a strong solo attack from a 10-rider group in the flat run-in to the finish and put 10 seconds into his chasers who were led to the finish by Patrick Konrad (Bora-Argon 18) and Romain Bardet (Ag2r). Mikel Landa (Sky) was isolated in the finale but retained the lead with an 8-second advantage over Kangert.

 

We have gathered several reactions.

 

Tanel Kangert: We have to be creative to beat Landa

"It was a dead moment of the race,” said Tanel Kangert,” and I realized that it was the right time to attack. It was true!

 

"I have to thank my teammate Jakob Fuglsang who attacked earlier, forcing our opponents to make effort to get him back. I looked at them in the face and I realized they were very tired so, with 2 km to go, I left.

 

"I have not won a major competition since 2012 - a stage at the Tour de Suisse - and I must thank the team and Alexandr Vinokurov for the trust they have always had in me.

 

“I am not so much used to winning, indeed, but I know what my dimension as a rider is, and my goal is to be one of the best domestiques in the peloton, but today the team left the options open, and I was good and lucky to seize the opportunity. Fuglsang was clearly the strongest in our team today, and honestly I was not brilliant on the climb too. In the finale, though, I managed to come back and I opted to try only one kick, with all that I had left. And it worked out.”

 

"I'm not accustomed to winning often so when I can it is really a great feeling. At the start of my career I knew I did not have the numbers to establish myself as a great champion, but I could win only minor races or short stage races, so I became a good wingman for important leaders and am happy with my role.

 

"Today I have done a perfect race. With Astana, we were in front with many. On the climb I did not have super legs but I held on and I tried it with one attack. I said ‘all or nothing’. The plan was to do the race for the strongest rider. We did not wait for Nibali or anybody else. Vincenzo is not yet at one hundred percent and had Liège and the Giro on the horizon so each of us has had the freedom to play our cards. Tomorrow we'll figure something out against Landa, our former teammate. In the Giro he will be as strong as last year.

 

"This success goes to Astana and especially to Alexandre Vinokourov who has always believed in me. I have now worn this jersey for six years. They have gone by so quickly because I have enjoyed this world and had a great time.

 

"This is a team victory. I am very happy to be back on top as I had not won for four years. I think tomorrow will be a difficult day for everyone . We have a good team and we can try to win the GC with me or with Fuglsang.

 

"Nibali? No, we are not worried, his goal is the Giro and he is working for that. No one from the team told us to wait for him. We know that his condition is growing, but he is still not one hundred percent so we made ​​our race. Now Fuglsang and will have to invent something to beat Landa. On the climbs, Mikel is a phenomenon but we know him weel as he has been with us for two seasons at Astana. We'll try, with two of us up front I think we can play the game. And then we have the strongest team.

 

Kangert knows very well the GC leader, his former teammate Mikel Landa, and realizes that unseating him from the top spot won’t be easy:

 

“We will have to be creative: if we don’t put in an aggressive and unpredictable strategy, it will be tough to drop Mikel.”

 

Patrick Konrad confirms his potential with second place in Trentino

An early breakaway of 10 riders including Cesare Benedetti, managed to stay in front until the last climb of the day. Like José Mendes yesterday, Benedetti was the strongest rider of the leading group, and was the last one caught by the favourites.

 

Within this small group of favourites, like yesterday, Patrick Konrad and Emanuel Buchmann were the two BORA – ARGON 18 riders who could follow the best climbers. Patrick Konrad won the sprint of the chasing group and finished in superb a 2nd place. With Emanuel Buchmann in 7th place, the team again delivered a really strong performance. In the GC Konrad moved up to 6th place while Buchmann remains 8th overall.

 

“On the last climb I really was on the limit, but I guess everyone was. It was changing between attacks and watching each other all the time, really brutal. As Emu (Buchmann) and I were in the 10-riderleading group, we decided that he should try to attack and I should try to concentrate on the sprint. It was a pity that Kangert could go clear, but I also think the second place is a really strong result for us. The whole team really did a great job yet again. We will see what will happen tomorrow, last year a group stayed in front. I am sure there are a lot guys who will try do something tomorrow, said Patrick Konrad.

 

“The team did an excellent job today. CeCe (Benedetti) was the strongest in the breakaway group and he showed our colours well on the front of the race. In the peloton Patrick (Konrad) and Emu (Buchmann) were again well protected by the rest of the team. Therefore, both could save energy for the last climb. Then it was a kind of elimination race on this last climb, Patrick and Emu showed today that they belong to the best climbers here. The second place from Patrick is a great reward for a really strong team performance,” said Enrico Poitschke, sports director.

 

Romain Bardet: I missed some freshness in the finale

“I am disappointed not to be able to fight for victory while we had strength in numbers. I missed a bit of freshness to do better in the finale,” said Romain Bardet.

 

Jean-Christophe Peraud: This is the first time in 18 months that I am satisfied

”There is no victory in the end but I'm happy with the day,” said Jean-Christophe Peraid. “This is the first time in a year and a half I am satisfied with my sensations. I made a lot of effort on the last climb, trying to attack or to help my teammates. I used a bit of energy alone and I finished with cramps but the results remain satisfactory. There is still a good stage before travelling to Liège-Bastogne-Liège to finish my preparation for the Giro.”

 

Domenico Pozzovivo: Landa was the strongest on the climbs.

"Landa was alone and we tried to attack but on the climb he was the best and so there was little to do. On the descent, unfortunately, I had some cramps and I could not be useful. Maybe with three, we could win the stage. Anyway, I'm satisfied, I'm still not 100% but it is normal, and at the Giro I will be ready,” Pozzovivo told Tuttobiciweb.

 

Mikel Landa defends teammates after difficult day in Trentino

Mikel Landa retained the race lead at the Giro del Trentino after a supreme display of climbing on stage three.

 

The Spaniard finished sixth, 10 seconds down on winner Tanel Kangert (Astana), to maintain his position at the top of the general classification.

 

Landa looked comfortable at the front of the race as he covered countless attacks on the final fearsome ascent of the 11km Fai della Paganella, with nobody able to forge a gap ahead of the summit.

 

He endured one heart in the mouth moment on the 14 kilometre descent to the finish, when he clashed with Emmanuel Buchmann (Bora-Argon) as the German undertook him, but the pair managed to stay upright.

 

Kangert broke clear 2km from the line but the drastically reduced bunch kept his time gap in check and Landa finished strongly to keep the leader's jersey heading into the final day.

 

Despite being alone on the final climb, Landa admitted that his legs felt strong.

 

He said: "On the final climb I felt good and thought I could defend the jersey. I didn't feel in difficulty until we finished the descent - the final 3km to the finish were flat and it would have been easy to lose time there.

 

"There are a lot of good riders close to me on the GC and they tried hard, but fortunately I felt very strong and I kept the jersey.

 

"I was a little bit afraid because it was about 30 minutes of effort, my longest climb of the season, but I'm feeling better day by day.

 

"I was also a bit worried about being alone but we had worked a lot before, so I cannot complain to my team-mates. They did a fantastic job.

 

“On the climb I felt good. Many have tried to break away, but I managed to defend myself. I have kept the jersey and tomorrow will be difficult because we are many within seconds. The condition is good and today I felt good. Tomorrow is the hardest climb of this race and for me it is better that it is rough. 

 

“Today it wasn’t that easy, actually. I managed to control on the climb, but in the descent and the last flat section I had to keep my eyes open: the gaps are still pretty little, and with time bonuses at the finish you don’t need that much to see some good advantage vanish. Also today, several rivals showed they can be dangerous – Fuglsang, and beyond – and tomorrow I know I will be attacked again: and for me, attacking might be the best defense.”

 

Looking ahead to the final stage Landa said he was confident, but knows it will be tough: "We will speak tonight about a strategy but it is going to be hard. We have to control the race until the last moment - but I am confident.

 

"We have seen that the best team was Astana, but also AG2R has strong riders . There are many riders close in the GC. There are many who have nothing to lose.
 

"I think Astana will go all in tomorrow with the strong climbers they have.

 

“My team? Today they worked so hard in the beginning and Astana saved energy. In the final I was without teammates and I do not like this, but they had worked previously and I'm sure in two weeks they will all be in top condition to assist me on the roads of the Giro. 

 

“The Giro? I am still missing so much and there are still three weeks to get ready

 

19-year-old climbing sensation takes white jersey in Trentino

19-year-old Colombian Egan Bernal took the white jersey.

 

"Yes, I'm fine, he told Gazzetta dello Sport, “I suffered just a little in the finale, but I'm very satisfied.

 

"I was born and lived in Zipaquira in the Cundinamarca Department, 50 km from the capital of Bogota. It is a city of 120,000 inhabitants, at 2650 meters above sea level. I started racing my bike at 8 years of age, inspired by my father German who was a rider at the time ofLucho Herrera times, although he was never professional.”

 

"I won a silver and a bronze at the Junior Worlds in mountain biking and won several youth competitions in Colombia and South America.

 

"One day I want to feel the joy on the podium of a grand tour. And if I am dreaming, then I would say the Tour de France, of course. My favorite rider? No, it is not Quintana. I like Nibali and I am inspired by him, because he is a complete rider, capable of winning a little everywhere. And I like the way he rides. He is generous, always on the attack, just like I try to do myself.

 

“I'm sorry that Androni cannot do the Giro but I will use the time to get experience.”