Burgos (st. 3) / Pologne (st. 6) / TT Euro Champs

Movistar Team's pre-selectees for Vuelta a España test their legs at finish mountain-top finish in Burgos: Dani Moreno takes 12th -sits in 11th overall-, with Antonio Pedrero in 14th

Mikel Landa (SKY) reinforced his GC-leading position at Thursday's stage three in the 39th Vuelta a Burgos with a convincing win atop the Hors-Categorie Picón Blanco climb, end of a 176km journey with six categorized climbs in the north of the province. The purple jersey holder joined David de la Cruz (QST, 2nd) into a late attack from a five-rider elite group including Mas (QST), López (AST) and Rosón (CJR), a move too much for a Movistar Team which kept a good position, with several riders involved, into the bunch at the first half of the climb.

Still building up their form before the upcoming Vuelta a España, the Blues finished near the top ten: Dani Moreno was 12th (1'40"); Antonio Pedrero took 14th place (+2'04"); and José Herrada finished in 19th spot (+2'29") with a few seconds over Fernández (24th) and Carapaz (25th). At the GC, which will be decided atop the Lagunas de Neila classic ascent on Saturday, Moreno now sits in 11th spot, 1'47" down on Landa. The race will head back into the plains on Friday, though, as stage four offers a punchy finish at the 'Roman City' of Clunia (150km).

Pologne: Izagirre, Rojas into group two

The demanding stage six in the Tour de Pologne, covering an endless series of short, steep climbs in the final 70km towards Zakopane, saw Australia's Jack Haig (ORS) claiming his first pro win with almost one minute over a 13-rider group unfortunately not made by the Movistar Team's Izagirre, Rojas and Oliveira.

The two Spaniards finished into the second main group -with Rojas in 17th place-, 2'26" down on the winner, which allows Izagirre staying close to the GC top-ten (he's now 14th, at 2'00") before the Tatr mountain showdown towards Bukowina on Friday (130km).

Euro TT Champs: Experience gained for Carretero, De la Parte

In turn, two Movistar Team riders wore the Spanish national team's colours at the 46km European TT Championships in Herning (Denmark), where Campenaerts (BEL), Bodnar (POL) and Mullen (IRL) took the three medals up for grabs. Héctor Carretero finished in a respectable 20th place (+3'36"), in only his second ride over such long distances as a pro, while Víctor de la Parte completed his efforts in 21th place (+3'43").

Results: Vuelta a Burgos | Tour de Pologne | Euro TT Champs

Picture (c): Photo Gomez Sport