Ciccone and Del Toro underestimate Decathlon-AG2R's top talent Bisiaux in the third stage of the Tour of Burgos

After Adrià won the opening stage on Tuesday, it was Matteo Moschetti (Q36.5) who claimed victory in a photo finish on Wednesday. The third stage featured some challenging climbs in the final, with the grueling Puerto de Orduña proving decisive.

From the start, which was at the Monasterio de San Pedro de Cardeña, there was a somewhat turbulent opening phase. There was a lot of interest in a spot in the early breakaway, so we saw a lot of riders accelerate. First, nine riders tried, but to no avail. A subsequent attempt by twelve riders also failed.

Five riders eventually got a free pass. Sander De Pestel (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) set off with five Spaniards: Daniel Cavia (Burgos Burpellet BH), Gorka Sorarrain (Caja Rural), Hugo Aznar (Kern Pharma), Iker Mintegi (Euskaltel-Euskadi), and Mario Silva (Illes Balears-Arabay). The six riders gained a comfortable lead over the peloton.

With 55 kilometers to go, the battle at the front was already underway. On the steep Puerto de Ozeka (2.7 kilometers at 8.6%), Aznar was the first to accelerate, followed by De Pestel and Sorarrain. The latter was ultimately the first to reach the top. The Belgian from Decathlon AG2R was on the wheel of the Spaniard, and the two left the other four breakaway riders behind.

With 36 kilometers to go, it was Mikel Landa who accelerated. The Spaniard made his return to racing after his crash in the Giro d'Italia and immediately showed his attacking spirit. Nairo Quintana (Movistar) had to let the peloton go due to the acceleration. With a lead of about twenty seconds on the peloton, Landa started the final climb, although the Spaniard was still just over a minute behind De Pestel and Sorarrain.

On the final climb of the day, the Puerto de Orduña (8.1 kilometers at 7.4%), the battle continued. Landa was picked up early on, while De Pestel ventured out on his own at the front. The pace in the peloton remained high, causing many riders to drop back. Among them was Adrià, who looked set to lose his leader's jersey.

An acceleration by Ciccone allowed the Italian, together with Léo Bisiaux (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), to close the gap to De Pestel in one go. The Belgian was immediately left behind by the two. Shortly behind the leaders, a group of favorites came together.

The peloton split into various groups as it approached the summit. At the top, Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) and Lorenzo Fortunato (XDS Astana) caught up with Ciccone and Bisiaux, and Del Toro joined the leading group shortly afterwards.

The five quickly built up a 40-second lead over the chasing group, making it clear that the winner was already at the front. Bisiaux didn't feel like sprinting, so the young Frenchman took the initiative. It paid off, as he sprinted to the first victory of his career. Ciccone finished second, nine seconds behind, ahead of Pellizzari (third), Del Toro (fourth), and Fortunato (fifth). The Frenchman thus took the leader's jersey from Adrià.