Volta a Catalunya 2025 route
2025 Volta a Catalunya contenders
Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2025 - Everything you need to know
Race situation
It came down to the main two riders in the race in the sprint to the line as they kicked away from the rest of the favourites in La Molina.
Hello and welcome to CyclingNews' live report of stage three at the Volta a Catalunya 2025.
Today's stage is the longest of the week with the riders tackling 218.6km with over 5000 metres of climbing ahead with the finish on La Monlina.
Yesterday, Matthew Brennan (Visma-Lease a Bike), backed up his super stage one win with a second place behind fellow Brit, Ethan Vernon (Israel-Premier Tech).
Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) comes into today feeling strong and relaxed as the race heads to the mountains.
The strength in depth at UAE Team Emirates-XRG is scary sometimes and today may be no different as they have a solid lineup with multiple potential leaders...
>>> UAE Team Emirates set to unleash multiple Volta a Catalunya GC cards with Juan Ayuso and Adam Yates
The neutral start is due to happen in around eight minutes time.
Neutralised start
The riders have started the neutral zone as they head to kilometre zero and the stage start.
Today is the longest stage of this week with plenty of mountains ahead. There should be a big fight to get into the breakaway today from the likes of Danny van der Tuuk (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Diego Uriarte (Kern Pharma) and Mario Aparicio (Burgos-Burpellet-BH).
The start is just delayed due to a mechanical for a Burgos-Burpellet-BH rider.
Racing starts!
After riding 4km into the stage under the neutralisation, the race has started and attacks are immediately going off the front.
Attack!
There is a group of 12 riders pushing on out of the peloton. Will a group of this size be allowed up the road? And which teams are going to control?
Breakaway caught as the race hurtles towards the first intermediate sprint of the day which is located in Molins de Rei. There are 3, 2 and 1 bonus second(s) and point(s) available here.
Attack!
Mats Wenzel (Kern Pharma)
The rider from Luxembourg is being chased down by breakaway specialist, Geoffrey Bouchard (Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale), making a duo up front with just 18" gap.
Intermediate sprint (Molins de Rei)
1. Mats Wenzel (LUX) Kern Pharma 3pts 3"
2. Geoffrey Bouchard (FRA) Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale 2pts 2"
3. José Manuel Díaz (ESP) Burgos-Burpellet-BH 1pt 1"
The GC riders miss out on the bonuses as the breakaway continues to try and form.
Wenzel and Bouchard still lead but they now have Edward Planckaert (Alpecin-Deceuninck) trying to join them. He is just 22" behind with the gap to the peloton heading towards 30".
The pace is upped in the peloton and it appears the three riders out front may be caught very soon.
Planckaert makes it to Wenzel and Bouchard but the peloton are just 9" behind them.
It appears that the team chasing in the peloton was Euskaltel-Euskadi as the Basque team have launched Jokin Murguialday across the gap and now the peloton look to have eased up.
Mechanicals
Juan Pedro López (Lidl-Trek)
Dries De Pooter (Intermarché-Wanty)
Louis Meintjes (Intermarché-Wanty)
All back in the bunch again. But a series of issues early on.
200km to go
The break aren't fully away just yet. Bouchard, Wenzel and Planckaert are about 15" ahead of Murguialday but the peloton are just 22" down. This isn't gone yet!
Murguialday has been caught by the peloton as the pace is ramped up yet again. Just 10" between the leaders and the peloton.
Breakaway caught!
That's it for the group of three as Mats Wenzel (Kern Pharma), Geoffrey Bouchard (Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale) and Edward Planckaert (Alpecin-Deceuninck) are reeled in.
Immediately, new moves start as the battle to form the morning breakaway goes into the afternoon over in Spain as we're beyond midday.
A big group of around 20 riders have a small gap on one of the foothills before they reach the first categorised climbs of the day, the Coll d'Estenalles (10.4km with an average gradient of 4% and max of 12%), with the top just under 30km away.
That massive breakaway has, unsurprisingly, been dragged back again.
190km to go
The pace has been relentless so far with the average speed being well above 40kph.
Attack!
Bruno Armirail (Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale)
Mats Wenzel (Kern Pharma)
Alex Molenaar (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA)
Lorenzo Germani (Groupama-FDJ)
They have a very small gap on the peloton.
This group of four appears to have been allowed to go as the gap now goes above a minute for the first time today.
Crash
Rainer Kepplinger (Bahrain Victorious)
Abandon
Henri Vandenabeele (Lotto)
180km to go
It was an intense fight to form the breakaway. But, now that the race is about to head onto the Coll d'Estenalles, it looks calm with the four man break holding around two minutes on the bunch.
One hour of racing done and the break has a gap of over two and a half minutes on the peloton. The average speed has been 40.8kph.
The gap stretches to four minutes as the race starts the Coll d'Estenalles climb.
Meanwhile, after crashing, Rainer Kepplinger (Bahrain Victorious) is back on his bike and seeking medical assistance at the doctors car.
The gap has grown out to over six and a half minutes as Armirail, Wenzel, Germani and Molenaar continue to work well together. There are 5, 3, 2 and 1 point(s) available at the top of the Coll d'Estenalles climb. They are 8km from the top.
Bike change
Juan Pedro López (Lidl-Trek)
The GC man for the American team has gone back to original race bike after having to swap to his spare earlier in the stage.
The gap is being reduced slightly and now sits just above six minutes with 2km to the top of the first climb of the day.
1km to the top of the Coll d'Estenalles.
As the break goes over the top of the Coll d'Estenalles, the gap dips under six minutes for the first time since starting the climb.
The break's gap has gone just above the six minute mark again.
Mechanical
Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious)
The French GC man for the Bahrain registered team has a brief bit of mechanical difficulty but should be back riding in the peloton again soon.
Abandon
Rainer Kepplinger (Bahrain Victorious)
Aftr his earlier crash the Austrian rider has struggled to continue and has now stepped off the bike.
KoM (Coll d'Estenalles)
1. Mats Wenzel (LUX) Kern Pharma 5pts
2. Bruno Armirail (FRA) Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale 3pts
3. Lorenzo Germani (ITA) Groupama-FDJ 2pts
4. Alex Molenaar (NED) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 1pt
150km to go
The breakaway are riding well so far. They have just under 20km to the next intermediate sprint which is in the town of Horta d'Avinyó.
The gap, once again, dips under six minutes as the peloton are descending at a much higher speed.
The teams setting the tempo at the front of the peloton are Lennert Van Eetvelt's Lotto squad and Juan Ayuso's UAE Team Emirates-XRG. The latter also has the potential of using Adam Yates, Marc Soler and maybe teenage sensation, Pablo Torres for a GC fight as well.
140km to go
Just 10km to the second intermediate sprint of the day.
After two hours of racing, the average speed is 39kph.
The break are just over 2km from the second intermediate sprint, located in Horta d'Avinyó.
Intermediate sprint (Horta d'Avinyó)
1. Mats Wenzel (LUX) Kern Pharma 3pts 3"
2. Lorenzo Germani (ITA) Groupama-FDJ 2pts 2"
3. Alex Molenaar (NED) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 1pt 1"
So far today, Mats Wenzel has won both intermediate sprints and the KoM sprint for his Kern Pharma team. The 22-year-old from Luxembourg is having a great day on the road.
The riders are now climbing consistently for pretty much 60km with a couple of small descents along the way before cresting the next climb of the day, the category three 11.7km long Coll de la Batallola which has an average gradient of 3% and a max of 12%. They are around 49km away from the official start of the ascent.
Mechanical
Lennert Van Eetvelt (Lotto)
The former UAE Tour champion was quickly back on his bike and is at the back of the bunch once again.
120km to go
The break's gap is stuck hovering around the six minute mark.
The gap to the break is being reduced with it falling to just over five and a half minutes thanks to the pace being set by Julius Johansen of UAE Team Emirates-XRG with help from Lotto.
100km to go
The gap has been further reduced and is now just below five minutes between the break and the peloton.
Crash!
Bart Lemmen (Visma-Lease a Bike)
The Dutchman is back on his bike but it is never ideal hitting the deck.
After three hours of racing and a day of mostly climbing, the average speed is still around the 39 to 40kph mark.
An update on Henri Vandenabeele (Lotto) who left the race earlier today...
🇪🇸 #VoltaCatalunya104Get well soon, Henri! 🍀 pic.twitter.com/17Xo6kTvJQMarch 26, 2025
Just 10km before the break officially start the second climb of the day, the Coll de la Batallola.
Bart Lemmen (Visma-Lease a Bike) has rejoined the peloton after crashing earlier in the stage.
The gap has now dropped under four and a half minutes as the peloton appear to have absolute control over the breakaway.
As the gap continues to be reduced up to the break, here is a reminder of who is up there in the group of four:
Bruno Armirail (Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale)
Lorenzo Germani (Groupama-FDJ)
Mats Wenzel (Kern Pharma)
Alex Molenaar (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA)
So far, Wenzel has taken both intermediate sprints and the first KoM of the day.
The gap has come down further and is now just above four minutes.
The riders have now reached the bottom of the 11.7km climb of Coll de la Batallola with an average gradient of 3% and a max of 12%. There are just 3, 2 and 1 point(s) available at the top.
Mechanical
Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
He has had a solid start to the race with two podium positions but today will not be for the Australian sprinter.
70km to go
UAE Team Emirates-XRG and Lotto continue to lead the peloton in the lovely sprint sunshine and they are just over four minutes down on the four man break who are just inside 7km to the top of the Coll de la Batallola climb.
Ineos Grenadiers and Visma-Lease a Bike are battling for control as they now get closer to the top of the Coll de la Batallola climb which has a short descent before starting the HC climb of Coll de la Creueta. 1km to the top for the break who are now just over three and a half minutes on the bunch.
KoM (Coll de la Batallola)
1. Mats Wenzel (LUX) Kern Pharma 3pts
2. Bruno Armirail (FRA) Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale 2pts
3. Alex Molenaar (NED) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 1pt
Several riders going out of the back including points jersey and yesterday's stage winner, Ethan Vernon (Israel-Premier Tech). Lidl-Trek have joined Visma-Lease a Bike, Ineos Grenadiers, UAE Team Emirates-XRG and Lotto on the front of the peloton.
Mechanical
Josh Burnett (Burgos-Burpellet-BH)
Crash!
Frederick Wandahl (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe)
Sylvain Moniquet (Cofidis)
This has caused a massive split in the peloton and has caused utter carnage as several riders now have to chase back on.
60km to go
UAE Team Emirates-XRG leading the peloton down the descent of the Coll de la Batallola and the gap to the break from the peloton has plummeted to two and a half minutes.
After four hours of racing the average speed has dropped a touch to 38kph.
Onto the Coll de la Creueta, an especial climb where 26, 20, 16, 14, 12 and 10 points available. It is 21.2km long with an average gradient of 5% with a max kick of 15%. A proper test that could see some early attacks.
Slovenian national champion, Domen Novak (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), leading the peloton for Juan Ayuso and potentially Adam Yates. Lotto has returned to their position just behind the Emirati squad as well.
The gap has dropped under two minutes thanks to the pace set by Domen Novak in the peloton.
Attack in break
Bruno Armirail (Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale)
The French time trial champion kicks on solo with just over 45km to go.
Novak swings off the front and now it is Lotto who take up the pacing for Lennert Van Eetvelt.
Bruno Armirail now has extended the advantage between him and the Lotto led peloton to 2'34". He has 40" on the rest of the break, as well.
40km to go
Armirail has extended his advantage to just over three minutes between him the the peloton. The three chasers are around a minute down on the leader. 6km to the top of the Coll de la Creueta climb.
UAE Team Emirats-XRG and Movistar have taken over the pace setting on the front of the peloton as Lotto were just not going anywhere near fast enough.
The pace change sees Armirail's gap drop to under three minutes again. And multiple riders are being distanced.
Armirail has now ridden into the snow line of the Coll de la Creueta. The peloton is getting rid of riders all the time thanks to the pace being set by Pavel Sivakov and Pablo Torres of UAE Team Emirates-XRG.
Bruno Armirail leads over the top of the Coll de la Creueta climb and takes the 26 points.
Crash!
Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious)
Finlay Pickering (Bahrain Victorious)
Getting tangled up in the feed zone and Pickering has stayed down as Martinez is back riding.
30km to go
Bruno Armirail (Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale) has just over a minute on the chasing group of three and two minutes on the peloton.
KoM (Coll de la Creueta)
1. Bruno Armirail (FRA) Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale 26pts
2. Mats Wenzel (LUX) Kern Pharma 20pts
3. Alex Molenaar (NED) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 16pts
4. Lorenzo Germani (ITA) Groupama-FDJ 14pts
5. Pablo Torres (ESP) UAE Team Emirates-XRG 12pts
6. Pavel Sivakov (FRA) UAE Team Emirares-XRG 10pts
Mats Wenzel (Kern Pharma), Lorenzo Germani (Groupama-FDJ) and Alex Molenaar (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) are caught by the charging UAE Team Emirates-XRG led peloton.
The race leader, Matthew Brennan (Visma-Lease a Bike) is still comfortably in the peloton after cresting the highest point of the stage.
With one more climb to go, Bruno Armirail is the new leader of the KoM standings by three points over Mats Wenzel.
Onto the final climb of the day, La Molina. It is 12.1km long with an average gradient of 5% with a max kick of 15%. There are 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 and 1 point(s) available. The peloton are now just 1'13" with Lidl-Trek coming up to chase with UAE Team Emirates-XRG.
The pace changes dramatically with Pablo Torres (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) coming to the front and that sees Matthew Brennan (Visma-Lease a Bike) finally decide to pull the pin on the day and is dropped by the bunch.
10km to go
Torres continuing to set a very high pace for Ayuso and Yates and the gap to Armiral is now down to just 18".
Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) now takes over the pace setting as Pablo Torres swings off. The pace is ramped up just a little bit more.
Attack
Nairo Quintana (Movistar)
He is heavily marked by Soler and is immediately dragged back.
Bruno Armirail caught.
Attack!
Cristián Rodríguez (Arkéa-B&B Hotels)
Emanuel Buchmann (Cofidis)
Quintana and Soler bring it back.
Attack!
Sepp Kuss (Visma-Lease a Bike)
Ben O'Connor (Jayco-AlUla)
This is a much more serious move with Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) being forced to chase for Juan Ayuso.
Adam Yates drags Kuss and O'Connor back and the pace drops again with 8km to go.
Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) comes to the front with Primož Roglič looking as cool as a cucumber in second wheel.
Into the final 7km and Pellizzari still leads the group with Simon Yates of Visma-Lease a Bike on his wheel. He is marked by Juan Ayuso and then the rest of the riders cluster around the 22-year-old from Barcelona.
Attack!
George Bennett (Israel-Premier Tech)
Lorenzo Fortunato (XDS-Astana)
Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)
They get a good gap thanks to Soler pushing hard but the others aren't as keen to go quite as full with 6km to go.
5km to go
Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe leading whats left of the peloton but the leading trio are looking very good for the moment.
Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) goes solo but there are riders bridging across with Sepp Kuss (Visma-Lease a Bike) launching across the gap.
George Bennett (Israel-Premier Tech) has been caught by the peloton but Soler and Fortunato are now joined by Kuss with more moves coming from behind with 4km to go.
Soler is the best placed in GC in this lead group at 31" but Fortunato is just over a minute down. Kuss has already lost a lot of time and is almost three minutes down.
Into the final 3km and the gap has grown to about 10" as Kuss is absolutely flying down this brief descent before the final kick up towards the line.
Now just 2km to go and Pellizzari is back to chasing in the peloton for Primož Roglič who is still following the wheels.
Now they begin to climb with just over a kilometre to the line and they have about 14" gap.
Flamme Rouge
EF Education-EasyPost now starts to chase hard for Richard Carapaz but they still need to close the gap to Soler, Kuss and Fortunato. But the gap has almost completely collapsed.
500 metrs to go and the catch is vry nearly made. Do the leaders have anything left or is it all about the chasing pack.
Attackers caught and it is Felix Gall (Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale) leadig the way with 400 metres to go but now Soler starts the leadout for Ayuso with Primož Roglič perfectly placed.
It's a photo finish between Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) and Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates-XRG). That was very very close.
Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) wins stage three of the Volta a Catalunya 2025 by the width of a tyre over Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe).
Top 10
1. Juan Ayuso (ESP) UAE Team Emirates-XRG 5:49'29"
2. Primož Roglič (SLO) Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe S.T.
3. Mikel Landa (ESP) Soudal-QuickStep +2"
4. Lenny Martinez (FRA) Bahrain Victorious +4"
5. Lennert Van Eetvelt (BEL) Lotto
6. Enric Mas (ESP) Movistar
7. Egan Bernal (COL) Ineos Grenadiers
8. Harold Martín López (ECU) XDS-Astana
9. Richard Carapaz (ECU) EF Education-EasyPost
10. Adam Yates (GBR) UAE Team Emirates-XRG all same time.
GC after stage three
1. Juan Ayuso (ESP) UAE Team Emirates-XRG 14:30'49"
2. Primož Roglič (SLO) Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe +6"
3. Mikel Landa (ESP) Soudal-QuickStep +11"
4. Enric Mas (ESP) Movistar +14"
5. Junior Lecerf (BEL) Soudal-QuickStep +17"
6. Lenny Martinez (FRA) Bahrain Victorious
7. Richard Carapaz (ECU) EF Education-EasyPost
8. Laurens De Plus (BEL) Ineos Grenadiers
9. Lennert Van Eetvelt (BEL) Lotto
10. Egan Bernal (COL) Ineos Grenadiers all same time.
Interesting to see Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) being totally empty after the finish, whereas Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) was as cool as you like and looking like he hadn't even been racing for over five hours. Potentially telling for the summit finish on Montserrat tomorrow.
🏔️ No ice bath needed after this victory! ❄️ #VoltaCatalunya104 Your new race leader at the @VoltaCatalunya 🔥 #WeAreUAE pic.twitter.com/Jt3o9JMdZ8March 26, 2025
Here is Primož Roglič after the finish. All smiles and immediately giving interviews while Juan Ayuso looked exhausted in a heap on the snow.
Tomorrow's stage is between Sant Vicenç de Castellet and Montserrat Mil·lenari over the course of 188.7km which is another day of climbing with a brutal summit finish. Likely to be another day of battling between Juan Ayuso and Primož Roglič, but will anyone else be involved?
