One of the many circuit stages on this tour, this one has three sprint primes which may well give some riders a decent GC position come the end of the day.
The early break takes a while to form, as ever the CDiv2 teams all want a piece of the breakaway action. Alstom's Canadian rider Charles Dionne
takes the opening sprint ahead of Lennie Kirk
and Arjen De Baat
Also visable at the first sprint are Juri Yuda Andrea Masciarelli Maxime Debusschere Sylvester Janiszkiewicz
the latter proving quite the mouthful for Argentine commentators.
These seven look like they are acceptable as a break to the pack, as a few more riders decide to get on this such as Sebastian Siedler Kimmo Kananen Andrei Krasilnikau Andrew Hunt Yannick Eijssen Tobyn Horton
and Andreas Anderegg
It makes for a tougher sprint at the second one however the winner remains the same as Charles Dionne is looking good for a high GC position come the end of the day. Siedler sprints from way back to take second ahead of Kananan.
The pack need to keep control of this large break and early on you feel as if Petrobrus are looking to make sure things are kept a lid on for GC purposes with Dyson more likely to be interested in the final sprint through Australian Simon Gaywood.
The final sprint see Siedler place himself far better to take the six bonus seconds and points on offer. He like Dionne has placed himself well today. Kananan adds to his haul with second and Yuda is third.
The chase has the gap down to three minutes with 30km to go and is not completely comfortable with AMEX and Armavia lending a hand.
As we close in on the finish it is Debusschere or is able to go solo with Juri Krivtsov
attacking from the peloton.
So under 10km to go and the pack haven't got complete control of this Debusschere is unable to continue with the pace having to concede to Kivtsov. Metinvests Ukrainian TT expert continues to plunder on getting in some early practice for stage 4! However Dyson who have been hanging around near the front are determined to close this down.
It's been a good attack but with just under 3km to go Kivstov is pretty much closed down.
They are lined up behind the Dyson riders in the sprint train Dyson lead through Marco Brus
leading it out for Simon Gaywood
as they ease past Kivstov.
Gaywood has been led out well by his team and makes a very decent jump as we go under the kite with Thorson who was on his wheel slipping backwards fast.
Only Stevic seems to be able seems to be able to get on terms with the Australian with Tuuhangai, Gerard and Kohler staying on and Freidman just coming into view.
The line approaches but Gaywood is running out of steam with Stevic and everyone else closing.
Indeed Stevic manages to just pip Gaywood on the line to take the leaders jersey and the stage win.
Gaywood just hold onto second with Gerard getting the decision for third over Kohler, Freidman and Tuulhangai.
