Alessandro Pinarello boosted his hopes of a strong GC result at O Gran Camiño as he took a season’s best after a combative showing alongside teammate George Bennett on stage 3.
Pinarello placed second in Padrón on Thursday, with Bennett just behind in fourth, and now sits just one second behind race leader Jørgen Nordhagen going into the queen stage of the race on Friday.
UPDATE: Race organizers have reviewed the time gaps at today’s finish and, combined with bonus seconds gained along the route, revized the GC standings. Pinarello now leads the GC, sitting level on time with Nordhagen, and will wear the yellow jersey on stage 4.
Having joined NSN for 2026, Pinarello has quickly shown his stage racing pedigree with the team, finishing 10th in Tirreno Adriatico last month and 12th in February’s Volta ao Algarve.
“I’m happy with today’s result,” says Pinarello, who also moved into the lead of the points classification. “It was very important to have George in front with me today.
“I didn’t expect the attack from [Adam] Yates today, but I had great legs anyway. I hope to go better in the next days because these final two stages will be hard with the mountains.”
The pair went on the attack on the 10.7-kilometer Alto Pico Muralla with a little over 40 kilometres of the stage remaining. Only four other riders, including Nordhagen and eventual stage winner Ivan Romeo, were able to match the NSN duo.
New Zealand champion Bennett notably demonstrated his climbing legs on the Pico Muralla, with his high-tempo ultimately proving successful in preventing a large chase group from ever rejoining the leaders.
Pinarello picked up two and three bonus seconds at the strategically-placed first and third intermediate sprints added by the race organizers following the climb’s descent.
The 22-year-old Italian, Romeo, and home rider Abel Balderstone eventually separated themselves from their three other breakaway companions, before Romeo attack with just over 10 kilometres remaining and soloed to the victory.
Pinarello and Bennett both won their respective sprints for second and fourth with ease.
Bennett says: “It was a really good day for us. It was good that we could use our advantage with the numbers – we were the only team with two riders in the move, so we could play a little bit.
“It worked out really well that I could be aggressive, and Ale could take advantage in the end.
“I think we’re in a really good position going into the final two days – I think I have a bit more freedom after having a puncture in the TT [and being further down on GC]. We saw how hard the race was today, but I think the real race comes in these next two stages. We’re in the fight.”
More to follow…