Valverde powers to uphill sprint win

Spaniard Alejandro Valverde took the third stage of the Vuelta a Castilla y León with a characteristically powerful uphill sprint, besting compatriots Rubén Plaza (Liberty Seguros) and Javier Moreno (Andalucía-Cajasur). Overall leader Levi Leipheimer (Astana) maintained his position on the general classification.

"I planned to try something in this third stage because it was a perfect one considering my characteristics and I knew that if I was lucky I had a chance to win it," said Valverde.

"The stage was a very fast one and we had to work a lot to catch the breakers. Leader Leipheimer's teammates worked a lot therefore and later on my team-mates rode at a very high rhythm in the climb. I am really satisfied to win here because the level of the race is high and also because I have not raced many days before coming here."

The 156.9 kilometre stage from Sahagún to the San Isidro ski station was made quite fast by strong tailwinds, and no breakaways could escape for the first half of the stage. A group of six riders finally escaped after 91 kilometres. Pablo Urtasun (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Ricardo Serrano (Fuji-Servetto), Lucas Euser (Garmin-Slilpstream), Serge Pauwels (Cervelo TestTeam), Raúl Santamaría (Burgos Monumental) and Francisco Mancebo (Rock Racing) could only manage just over a minute's lead.

The Astana team was responsible for much of the pacemaking, but made for a comfortable ride for Leipheimer and second placed Alberto Contador. "It was a very aggressive and fast stage, but in a way, comfortable for me, though not for my team", said Leipheimer. "My team did a great job, with Noval and Vaitkus pulling almost the whole day, and then with Chechu [Rubiera], Jesus Hernández and Haimar [Zubeldia]. They worked very well, because it was not simple to control on this finish".

The Caisse d'Epargne team took over on the run-in to the finish, setting a hard tempo at the front, and reeled in the escapees with four kilometres to go on the long, gradual climb to the finish. They delivered Valverde to his first victory of the season.

"The first victory of the season is always very important. It gives you more confidence for the remaining part of the season and I am really happy I won today," Valverde said.

"In spite of everything, even if it is true that I am not bad at all, I know that I still have to work a lot before reaching my best level. Tomorrow will be another day, with the queen stage and two first category hills. I hope to recover from today to be with the best riders tomorrow and if not with the very first at least not far behind."