Stage 3 arrives, and its ... raining in the desert!
Some things never change though: the wind.
After attacks settled down, it was Dennis van Winden with a solo lead. He took the first sprint, while Jamieson was the only one behind to sprint, and gets rewarded with 2nd, Christian Meier in 3rd
So here is today's breakaway, 15 strong - could be a threat!
The gap grows to 3 minutes, but 15km later - still 60km to go - its all gone, break caught. Some teams clearly didnt want to be chasing that breakaway later on - perhaps now fearing the possibility of splits?
Here is our replacement breakaway then! Flecha, Ratto and William Ford
Ratto takes the second sprint
But Cafe de Colombia arent interested in letting these 3 stay away either
Vesuvio and Nestle come to help them, then Pokerstars do aswell as Cafe de Colombia then take that as a sign to stop helping. William Ford is last to be caught, 13km to go
Now the sprint trains can start to form, tucked away for now. Approaching 5km to go - the time that yesterday Pokerstars surged through yesterday to take the stage. Slight problem today though, the positioning skills of Erik Mohs!
There is still a move at 5km to go though - Edvald Boasson Hagen attacks!
And of all teams to produce a sprint train in response, it's Vesuvio! That is very unexpected as Stauff, leads Schinker and Swift. B&O have got both angles covered today, Vanoverschelde taking up an ideal position, then it is Goss, Avelino, Bewley, Castaneda and Roelandts
And as Stauff presses on to try to close down Hagen, nobody else tags on. Pokerstars wondering where on earth Mohs is, while Lo Cicero, Guerao, Cooke and Richeze have nothing left to follow
Schinker launches the sprint, and soon Hagen is closed back down. A good effort, but perhaps finding it tough to stay clear in the wind
With no Mohs to lead out, Degenkolb decides to go for a long sprint - good news for fellow CT sprinter Cooke on his wheel - but Vanoverschelde sees this coming and launches. Schinker still leading, but Swift is about to go
And has Swift been caught out here? Avelino and Goss have both outjumped him and challenge Vanoverschelde for the lead, Cooke also coming up
But Cooke and Vanoverschelde cannot match the accelerations as Avelino, Swift and Goss really go for it
Goss seems to be edging it
But it is so so close!
Swift is going slightly faster, but the finish line arrives, and Matt Goss wins the stage!
Swift is 2nd, Avelino 3rd, then Vanoverschelde, Bewley, Cooke, Roelandts, Richeze and Degenkolb, Van Stayen showing a first sign of sprinting to take 10th. Race leader Castaneda is 11th, which isnt good enough. Ben Swift takes the overall race lead, 1 second ahead of Castaneda, 2 seconds ahead of Goss.
Mohs eventually appeared, and takes 15th place, just behind Lo Cicero
And unlike yesterday, theres no splits today. The weather perhaps dampening the aggressive spirits of those looking to tear up the race.
So, 2 seconds between 3 sprinters at top of the GC, while Avelino is still only 37th, 25 seconds down, despite his time bonus today. The points classification is also very tight. Goss leads, it but just 3 points between him, Swift, Mohs, Bewley and Avelino. Ben Swift takes the young riders jersey in addition to the Golden race leader jersey, so leadout man Schinker will wear White again tomorrow.
