In a conservative race for UCI World Tour cyclists, the partial was defined in the final sprint | Photo: Vuelta a San Juan

The third stage of Vuelta a San Juan began at San Juan Villicum International Circuit, with the 146 cyclists still competing and a panorama of great expectations due to the few differences between all the candidates for the final victory.

With 38 km to go, the majority peloton, where all the UCI World Tour cyclists were riding, neutralized the break that had started from the very beginning of the competition and there was the expectation of knowing who would jump to find a difference or if, simply, they would ride to Villicum to define massively as happened in the previous stage.

The reality was that they kept the modality of previous stages, where all the candidates wait for the final kilometers to try to win the stage in the final sprint.

Before entering the circuit, it was the Italian Simone Bevilacqua who surprised everyone, but that action lasted until he reached the opposite straight where he was hit and there, once he had left the Panoramic grandstand sector, in a tremendous effort, Quinn Simmons  from Trek – Segafredo, came out with great power, defending the position against the onslaught of Argentinian Maximiliano Richeze (2nd), from the Argentine National Team and Sam Bennett (3rd), from Bora – Hansgrohe.

Bennet continues as the leader, now alone, of the general classification with a six second advantage over Fabio Jakobsen, eight seconds over Fernando Gaviria, ten seconds over Giacomo Nizzolo.

The fourth stage will join the San Juan Villicum Circuit with the Barreal square, visiting the Vuelta, for the first time, the Calingasta department, covering 196.5 kilometers. The real start time will be at 14:46.

Photos: Quinn Simmons sorprendió a todos y se llevó la tercera etapa en el Villicum