MEDITERRANEAN EPIC BY SCOTT 2025 [RECAP STAGE 3]

The third stage of the Mediterranean Epic by SCOTT has been the longest of the race. The group, which returned to Oropesa del Mar in its penultimate stage, has offered a route of 81 km and 1400 meters of positive slope, in a day with more rolling zones combined with the usual fun terrain that characterizes this race.
The day dawned sunny and with ideal temperatures for a MTB competition but with an unexpected guest, the wind. Although it was not really intense, it did play a key role in adding an extra tactical point to the development of the stage, in which the weekend riders joined the rest of the group.
The race started with a very intense pace trying not to lose the lead group after the hard climb that opened the route. In the rolling zone before the Garmin segment, the most demanding climb of the day, the Buff-Megamo teamwork was seen, with the aim of protecting their leader.
Flat tires and breakdowns left the French Luca Martin, U23 XCO world champion, and the Polish Krzysztof Lukasisk, outside that group.
There were several breakaway attempts, but the leader of the overall classification himself, first-hand, was in charge of neutralizing them. It was precisely his intense pace that led to the final breakaway in which, along with Alleman, there were the British Charlie Aldridge and the Norwegian Emil Hasund and Eskil Evensen-Lie.
The final stretch of the stage made tactics essential and, although there were several attacks, no one could avoid a final sprint in which Wout Alleman was once again the best. The one from Buff-Megamo has won the 3 disputed stages and on this day, Aldridge and Emil Hasund joined him on the podium.
In the women’s category, the stage started with Rosa van Doorn holding a big lead in the overall classification. Despite riding relatively comfortably in the first part of the stage, the arrival to the Garmin segment dynamited the race, and the Dutch was again on the front alone. From here, she began a long individual time trial in search of her third win.
The women’s podium this day was led by Van Doorn. The second and third place were for Hannah Otto and Klaudia Czabok.