Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team will defend the Tour de San Luis leader's jersey for a third day in a row, protecting Francesco Chicchi's general classification lead after he won the first two stages in photo finishes. Stage 3 promises to be far, far different from the previous stages. Stage 1 and stage 2 only had one climb each. Also, both of those climbs were category 3, and early enough in the race where the course flattened out. The flatter part of the course allowed two breakaways to be caught and sprint finishes to result.
Stage 3 is a climbers course. It's a 168.2 km course from Estancia Grande to Mirador Del Potrero. There are two category 1 climbs, and one category 3 climb. The category 3 climb is at the 26 km marker (142.2 km remaining), while the category 1 climbs reside at the 60 km point (108.2 k remaining) and — perhaps most importantly — the finish.
This will certainly be a test for Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team, but expect our riders to work hard to keep the leader's jersey with the team.
Stage 3 rolls neutral at 1:50 p.m. ART, and the race actually begins at 1:57 ART.
To see results, photos and more after Stage 2, click here