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Ayuso pips Roglic to Tour of Catalonia stage three / Photo: © AFP
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Ayuso pips Roglic to Tour of Catalonia stage three
Juan Ayuso snatched victory on stage three of the Tour of Catalonia fractionally ahead of 2023 winner Primoz Roglic and climbed to the top of the general classification on Wednesday.
UAE Team Emirates rider Ayuso passed Roglic in the final metres and the Slovenian could not battle his way back in front as they sprinted across the line in a photo finish.
The home favourite triumphed after a gruelling 218-kilometre ride from Viladecans through snow-capped hills to a mountain finish at La Molina.
Roglic is second overall, trailing Tirreno-Adriatico winner Ayuso by six seconds, with another Spaniard, Mikel Landa third, 11 seconds off the top.
Ayuso, 22, and 35-year-old veteran Roglic, a four-time Vuelta a Espana winner, are the leading contenders to triumph with reigning champion Tadej Pogacar not competing.
Thursday's stage four is another mountainous run, taking riders 188.7 kilometres from Sant Vicenc de Castellet to Montserrat.
The seven-day race ends Sunday in Barcelona with the ascent of Montjuic to the Olympic stadium, where La Liga leaders Barcelona currently play home games.
A.Clark--SFF
