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2026-05-05T13:45:44.760Z
We’re more than halfway now and about to reach the highest point of today’s stage. It’s actually been almost all uphill from the start and we’re 502m above sea level.
Wilson-Haffenden and Vervloet lead by 1.53.
60km to go
2026-05-05T13:39:23.577Z
Franziska Koch (FDJ United-SUEZ) is leading the race overall, though she’s yet to win stage, she was third on stage 1 and second on stage 2. What are the chances she keeps her red jersey with a win today?
Franziska Koch (FDJ United – SUEZ) wears the overall leader’s red jersey during stage 3 of the 2026 La Vuelta Femenina. (Photo by Szymon Gruchalski/Getty Images) (Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-05-05T13:33:52.125Z
The gap has settled, the peloton have brought the breakaway too within reach and they now sit at 2.30 in front. They’re not likely to win, but that’s the beauty of cycling, you never know.
70km to go
2026-05-05T13:25:21.785Z
With no classified climb on the route today, we do have an intermediate sprint, though it’s not until 16.7km to go.
The brakaway’s advantage continues to drop, it’s now only 2.35.
2026-05-05T13:18:04.547Z
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2026-05-05T13:15:30.855Z
The peloton are getting organised now and the gap has dropped below three minutes.
The peloton competing during stage 3 of the 2026 La Vuelta Femenina between Padron to A Coruna. (Photo by Szymon Gruchalski/Getty Images) (Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-05-05T13:09:44.588Z
This is a strong and mature ride from the two escapees.
Wilson-Haffenden is only 20, while Vervloet is just 22-years-old.
They lead the peloton by 3.11.
80km to go
2026-05-05T13:05:12.876Z
But we could have another sprint on our hands. Yesterday’s was very dramatic, with Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) relegated for an irregular sprint.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-05-05T13:01:03.882Z
There are now two groups on the road, Wilson-Haffenden and Vervloet lead the peloton by 3.44, the race rolling at an average speed of about 36km/h.
2026-05-05T12:58:00.828Z
Wilson-Haffenden started the day 5.20 down on GC, while Vervloet was at 19.56, neither is a threat to the overall lead, will the bunch let them fight for the stage, or will the sprinters want another battle?
2026-05-05T12:54:54.091Z
And it’s all change.
Garua’s group have seven up the ghost, sat up and are heading back to the bunch.
Felicity Wilson-Haffenden (Lidl-Trek) and Sterre Vervloet (Lotto-Intermarché Ladies) lead the peloton by 3.10.
90km to go
2026-05-05T12:52:59.913Z
The two groups have been up the road a while now and still they’re separated, though the gap is coming down and they’re almost together. Garau is now the overall leader of the Vuelta on the road.
Marina Garau (Vini Fantini-BePink) leads a chasing group during stage 3 of the 2026 La Vuelta Femenina 2026. (Photo by Szymon Gruchalski/Getty Images) (Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-05-05T12:44:28.909Z
It’s proving harder than they hoped for Gégu, Ragusa and Garau to reach the leading pair, they’ve slipped back very slightly.
Will they even get there?
2026-05-05T12:41:28.073Z
Though she is on an Italian team, Garau is one of only eight Spanish riders who started the race on Sunday, partly because there are no Spanish Continental teams anymore.
We investigated the state of women’s pro cycling in Spain, La Vuelta is thriving but the lower levels are struggling.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-05-05T12:38:23.639Z
Wilson-Haffenden and Vervloet lead the peloton by 2.19 with the chasers 20 seconds behind.
100km to go
2026-05-05T12:33:36.266Z
The two groups are coming together now, it seems as though the leading pair are waiting for the chasers.
2026-05-05T12:29:20.885Z
But Garau’s group are not gaining time at the same pace as Wilson-Haffenden and Vervolet who are 2.15 ahead, while Gégu, Ragusa and Garau are only 1.33 in front of the peloton.
2026-05-05T12:27:34.520Z
Marina Garau is the best placed breakaway rider in the breakaway, trailing Koch’s overall lead by 2.13. She might well be the virtual leader on the road very soon.
Her Vini Fantini-Bepink team is the lowest ranked team in the race and the only third division, Continental squad.
2026-05-05T12:20:48.646Z
With 110km to go Wilson-Haffenden and Vervloet now lead the peloton by 1.35 with Gégu, Ragusa and Garau 35 seconds behind them.
The breakaway is formed
2026-05-05T12:17:38.438Z
Wilson-Haffenden and Vervloet are 49 seconds ahead with Gégu, Ragusa and Garau 14 seconds behind them.
It seems the Mayenne team were looking for the breakaway today.
🗣️Las chicas del @MayenneCycling tienen un objetivo: ser protagonistas de la fuga del día ⚔️
👊 The Mayenne Monbana My Pie girls have one goal: be part of breakaway of the day! #LaVueltaFemenina pic.twitter.com/1PssmwGP51May 5, 2026
2026-05-05T12:13:49.732Z
Medical update on Eleonora 🏥
After the stage yesterday, Eleonora Ciabocco went for multiple checks and scans at the hospital, with the final one revealing what our medical team suspected – that she unfortunately suffered some broken bones in the crash 😔
She therefore won’t… pic.twitter.com/49co4lx9NAMay 5, 2026
2026-05-05T12:12:29.748Z
Now Justine Gégu (Mayenne-Monbana-My Pie) has set off in pursuit of the leaders, with Katia Ragusa (Human Powered Health) and Marina Garau (Vini Fantini-Bepink) joining her.
2026-05-05T12:08:50.094Z
With only two kilometres done we have two riders away, Felicity Wilson-Haffenden (Lidl-Trek) and Sterre Vervloet (Lotto-Intermarché Ladies) have 18 seconds.
2026-05-05T12:07:11.331Z
We had 118 riders start the stage today, Noemi Rüegg wasn’t the only one to leave the race after yesterday’s stage.
Eleonora Ciabocco (Picnic-PostNL) and Margot Vanpachtenbeke (Lidl-Trek) have also withdrawn overnight.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-05-05T12:03:22.522Z
We’re racing, with 121.2km ahead of us.
The flag drops
2026-05-05T12:02:27.140Z
Our race leader, Fransika Koch (FDJ United-SUEZ) and stage two winner Shari Bossuyt (AG Insurance-Soudal) before the roll out.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-05-05T11:58:24.253Z
There’s little change in the weather from previous stages, with a maximum temperature forecast at around 15º, some rain and winds up to around 18km/h from the north-west. That could cause some issues in the bunch as we run along the coast later.
2026-05-05T11:56:18.487Z
And we’re rolling for 4km of neutralised riding before the stage gets going proper.
2026-05-05T11:55:50.801Z
The organisers describe the day as flat, and admittedly there are no classified climbs, but…
It’s a day for the opportunists with relentless climbing on the roads to A Coruña.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-05-05T11:54:27.296Z
Riders are already heading to the start, Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime) doesn’t look too happy with the weather.
Anna van der Breggen (Team SD Worx-Protime) prior to stage 3 of the 2026 La Vuelta Femenina. (Photo by Szymon Gruchalski/Getty Images) (Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-05-05T11:52:16.589Z
Today’s stage is another tough one, with more than 2,000m of vertical ascent. We roll out from the town of Padrón at 14:00 Spanish time, and finish in A Coruña 121.2km later.
2026-05-05T11:45:52.775Z
It was a difficult day for EF Education-Oatly though.
Their Former Swiss champion, Noemi Rüegg started the day in the leader’s red jersey, but crashed out of the race.
She’s since been diagnosed with a broken shoulder.
Noemi Ruegg of Switzerland (EF Education-Oatly) wears the red leader’s jersey at the Vuelta Femenina 2026 (Photo by Szymon Gruchalski/Getty Images) (Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-05-05T11:39:08.637Z
Yesterday was another gripping, enthralling day, with many a tale to being told.
Shari Bossuyt (Team AG Insurance-Soudal) celebrates after winning stage 2 of the 2026 Vuelta Femenina in San Cibrao das Vinas. (Photo by Szymon Gruchalski/Getty Images) (Image credit: Getty Images)
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of stage three of the Vuelta España Femenina.