The Vuelta a Espana‘s third stage is 197.8 kilometres from Cadiz to Arcos de la Frontera. Alejandro Valverde is the race leader, taking the red jersey from teammate Jonathan Castroviejo on placings yesterday.
Join The Roar for live updates from 12:00am (AEST).
There’s more on offer for a breakaway today, with three third category climbs, as well as more rolling terrain making it easier for an escape.
There’s also a small ramp up to the finish, so the general classification contenders will have to ride near the front to avoid splits in the peloton.
The ramp means Nacer Bouhanni probably won’t be able to take a second win, it’s more likely to be triple Tour de France green jersey winner Peter Sagan.
If the Slovakian fails to capitalise on the opportunity, John Degenkolb will be waiting in the wings.
Of the general classification contenders, Joaquim Rodriguez or even race leader Alejandro Valverde will be most suited to this kind of finish. Valverde will need to stay near the front if he wishes to keep the red jersey for another day.
Join The Roar for live updates of Stage 3 of the 2014 Vuelta a Espana from 12:00am (AEST).
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Tomas Fish
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Thanks for joining me for stage 3 of La Vuelta a Espana. Keep joining us on The Roar for all the live coverage, I'll be back as it stands on stage six.
Tomas Fish
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That's Matthews in a grand tour leader's jersey once again! He's beginning to look a real classy rider for the future.
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Michael Matthews now leads the Vuelta by four seconds from Nairo Quintana, Alejandro Valverde is at eleven seconds, with Rigoberto Uran at fifteen. Damiano Caruso rounds out the top five at seventeen seconds.
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Joaquim Rodriguez was third on the day. Froome was tenth.
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Giampaolo Caruso of Katusha was the first man to attack but was caught and passed by the Irishman Martin first.
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Matthews came out from the wheel of Dan Martin to take the stage. Contador and Rodriguez definitely came in safely.
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Michael Matthews wins the sprint! He wins in front of Dan Martin of Garmin-Sharp.
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They've reached the ramp with Giant-Shimano on the front. Attacks off the back with Katusha, Contador following.
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They've passed the bridge pinch point and are up to speed once again.
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Three kilometres to go and Giant-Shimano and Katusha are on the front.
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Four kilometres to go and Tony Martin takes control for Omega Pharma-Quickstep.
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Ten kilometres to go and the peloton are starting the chase Hansen down in earnest.
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Hansen has 17 seconds already! 11 and a half kilometres to go.
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Attack off the front of the peloton! Adam Hansen (in his tenth consecutive grand tour) has decided to have a go.
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The Movistar duo who crashed are looking pretty forlorn out back on their own.
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15 kilometres to go and we've hit a small ramp.
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Orica-GreenEDGE are still at the front of the peloton. Tinkoff-Saxo, FDJ.fr and Sky are also all visible, although when aren't Tinkoff-Saxo visible.
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Castroviejo trying to take a musette was the cause of the crash.
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Nacer Bouhanni and Chris Froome narrowly avoided that collision.
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Crash in the peloton! Two Movistar riders down, Jonathan Castroviejo and Adriano Malori. Both look alright if annoyed.