PUERTOLLANO, Spain, 30 August 2005 — Italian Alessandro Petacchi’s build-up to the world championships got off to a fine start when he won stage three of the Tour of Spain from Cordoba to Puertollano yesterday.

The Fassa Bortolo rider easily outclassed German Erik Zabel, second and Belgian Tom Boonen third in the first bunch sprint of this year’s race. The strong favorite to succeed Spaniard Oscar Freire as world road-race champion on Sept. 25in Madrid, Petacchi insisted that he was not yet at 100 percent.

Referring to himself, Zabel, Boonen and Norwegian Thor Hushovd, who placed fourth in Puertollano, Petacchi said “the four best sprinters of the world are here in Spain.” “But when I accelerated at the finish I maintained my advantage, so that was encouraging for now and for the worlds in Madrid.” With temperatures soaring to over 40 degrees during the short 153.3 kilometer stage northwards from Andalucia into the country’s central plains, Petacchi said the intense heat had made the race much more difficult than it looked on paper.

One of the most prodigiously successful sprinters of all time, Monday’s win was his 13th stage victory in the Tour of Spain and 36th in a major Tour.

Barring a long-range solo move by Spaniard Javier Pascual Rodriguez as the race headed north from Andalucia into the country’s central plains, attacks were notable by their absence.

After Pascual Rodriguez was reeled in 26 kilometers from the finish, Petacchi’s team workers in Fassa Bortolo rode at a fierce pace to ensure the sprinter kept all his options open.

Bradley McGee continued as Australia’s first ever race leader of the Tour of Spain for a second day. McGee secured 10 bonus seconds, increasing his overall advantage to 32 on Italian Leonardo Bertagnolli, Sunday’s stage winner, and 39 on Spaniard Juan Antonio Flecha.