David Gaudu wins Vuelta a España stage 3, strengthens overall standing

David Gaudu of Groupama-FDJ secured a tactical and surprising victory on stage three of the 2025 Vuelta a España, narrowly defeating pre-stage favorite Mads Pedersen in an uphill sprint finish in Ceres, Italy. Despite Lidl-Trek's control of the stage and a strong lead-out by Giulio Ciccone for Pedersen, Gaudu timed his sprint perfectly, overtaking Pedersen at the final hairpin to claim his first Grand Tour stage win in five years. Jonas Vingegaard, the red jersey holder from Visma-Lease a Bike, finished third on the stage and maintained his overall race lead, although Gaudu now shares the same overall time as Vingegaard. The stage featured a challenging uphill finish that tested the sprinters and climbers alike, with breakaway attempts and strategic team efforts shaping the race. Gaudu's victory marks his third career stage win at the Vuelta and cements his status as a strong contender in the overall standings. The race continues to be highly competitive with key riders like Mads Pedersen and Giulio Ciccone also performing well overall.