The German cycling newcomer Franziska Koch successfully defended the red jersey of the overall leader at the Tour of Spain, but was only two seconds ahead.
The Paris-Roubaix winner took 16th place in the main field on the third stage on Tuesday from Padrón to A Coruña over 121.2 kilometers and 1,823 meters in altitude. The 25-year-old from Mettmann had taken the lead in the overall ranking the day before as second in the stage.
Franziska Koch has the world champion behind her
The two-time world champion Lotte Kopecky (Belgium/SD Worx – Protime) jumped to second place, the French day winner Cédrine Kerbaol (EF Education) improved to third place, now four seconds behind. Liane Lippert (Movistar) moved up to sixth place overall with fourth place (+0:18).
Koch is stealing the show from the stars of the scene these days, and not for the first time this year. Just three weeks ago she was the first German woman to triumph at the Paris-Roubaix cobblestone classic. For the German champion, who drives for the French team FDJ United-Suez, it was by far the greatest career success. She was then named athlete of the month for April.
The Vuelta final is tough
Her strong form from the spring – Koch also came third at the Strade Bianche and also finished the Tour of Flanders in the top 10 – is now seamlessly transferred to the first big tour of the year. “I’m having so much fun with the team,” said Koch, who has only been driving for the French team since the current season: “If you enjoy what you do and are in a good group, everything goes like clockwork,” she said.
It should stay that way, at least until the Vuelta final next Sunday. The decision for overall victory will then be made on the dreaded L’Angliru climb. The mountain, which the men have already ridden at the Vuelta, has a maximum gradient of 23 percent over its 12.1 kilometers. Riders like the French Tour winner Pauline Ferrand-Prévot then have an advantage. Regardless of the final result, Franziska Koch can already count her Vuelta as a success.
