The race hits the potentially decisive stage 3, where a big hill which dominates the final 25 kilometres could shake up the overall and move the sprinters out of the GC fight. The favourites today are the best climbers here; Sanchez Gonzalez, Furdi and Ngue are all being talked about as potential victors.
Straight away we have the first attacker. Mihaylov is the first to go on the offensive as the peloton takes it easy over the first few kilometres.
The Boeing rider is let go, and no-one is prepared to join him off the front. That means he forms another solo breakaway, just like yesterday. The first four sprints are taken comfortably, with the bunch preparing for the tough climax of the stage.
Sprint
1
2
3
Intermediate 1
Mihaylov
Guillen
Chicchi
Mountain 1
Mihaylov
Gottfried
Grau
Mountain 1
Mihaylov
Grau
Ebsen
Intermediate 2
Mihaylov
Lequatre
Anton Martin
Into the final 30 kilometres, the Bulgarian's gap is down to under a couple of minutes. It doesn't look like he'll be able to stay away until the end, something which was the most likely scenario anyway.
As the peloton hits the final climb, the attacks begin almost immediately. The first is lead by Becerra, with Ronimois, Florencio, Minnaard and Rodriguez Galindo in his wheel.
That group gets a small gap of 30" over the next kilometre, with Prio working hard to bring the move back. Up at the very front, Mihaylov is losing ground very quickly.
The front group of five catches the Bulgarian, becoming a group of six. That shouldn't affect their fate though, with the peloton approaching fast from behind they will almost certainly be caught.
The catch is made halfway up the climb. Undeterred by the last attempt's fortunes, another offensive move is made. This time the aggressor is Valencia, followed by Ngue.
The pair manage to pull out a gap like the last attack, but only time will tell if it will grow or shrink. Prio still command the ever-shrinking peloton behind.
Santos is still in the front proportion of the bunch, but other fast men like Andriato and Chicchi have gone off the back.
That move is brought back as well, and once again the gruppetto is back together. With the top of the climb fast approaching, will anyone get away?
Prio keep everything together towards the top of the climb by setting a high pace, but at what cost? Nearing the very top of the climb, Santos has been put in difficulty and is hanging off the back of the group! His team drops off the pace at the front, but the damage could be already done.
With the pace dropping at the front, some riders see the opportunity for one final attack. Rodas is the first to jump and riders behind are struggling to keep his wheel!
Cresting the top of the climb, the Colombian looks behind to see that he has a gap! With just over 15 kilometres left, he could have a chance here.
On the long descent he grows his advantage to 50", with the peloton slowly putting together a chase.
Santos, dropped on the final slopes of the climb, manages to catch the peloton on the descent and with no further climbing today looks a solid bet for the GC.
Prio return to the front to set the pace, hoping to retain their leader's yellow jersey.
They will have to catch Rodas though, who has entered the final 5 kilometres after some daredevil descending with a 40" gap. He has hit the flat though, where it will be hard to maintain his gap.
Behind, an attack is launched by Ebsen, trying to steal some seconds in the overall battle. Prio keep in a steady rhythm. A couple of other attackers follow.
He’ll struggle to catch Rodas though, who is moving into the penultimate kilometre.
Back in the peloton, the sprint begins. Machado leads in the early stages, with Santos also in the mix, back at the front.
Meanwhile, Rodas can now see the finish at the front! Surely the victory must be his.
Ebsen is caught as the bunch sprints into the final 1500 metres. Anton Martin is leading now, and is pulling out a small advantage.
With just 500m left for Rodas, he can almost smell the finish line. He isn't home yet though; the peloton is rapidly cutting his lead!
Anton Martin remains in the lead just 200 metres back, with things incredibly tight. Furdi and Minnaard are fast movers just behind.
They wont catch Rodas though, who raises his arms in celebration! The MTN rider rode a great race, and deserves his stage victory just in front of the bunch.
Furdi takes second after a good finish, while Anton Martin also gets a podium finish today in third. Minnaard and Ngue both round off the top five here.
None of those will lead the race tomorrow though; Santos retains his yellow jersey after a solid ride today over the hilly terrain. Barring a crash, the race looks to be his. In the other classifications he holds his lead in the Points, while Grau solidifies his grip on the Mountain competition. Furdi now leads the U25, with WWE retaining their teams lead.
