Stage 3 to Lluc is the hardest stage of the race, and should be where the overall winner is decided. Chris Froome is still the favourite for the stage, assuming no crash injuries, but his time lost puts his closest rival Di Maggio in pole position for the overall race - although there are plenty of other puncheurs here hoping to win too.
The first category climb of Coll de Puig Major could be the key point of the stage, although it does end with 15km still to go - leaving descending, one last uncategorised climb, and more descending to the finish.
Straight away from the start there is climbing, to the first Cat 2 climb. 10, 8, 6, 4 and 2 KoM points are available and by the top already there are signs of a breakaway forming. Kohler is first over, ahead of Kruopis and Lietaer.
Traficante and Fraile are also in the move, with Orozco trying to get across.
At the next Cat 3 KoM that follows soon after, the top 2 are reversed: Kruopis beating Kohler, with Fraile 3rd.
Having made it to the group, Orozco was the only one not to contest for KoM points. He gets dropped because of it, and falls back to the peloton. We look set to have a 5 man breakaway group then.
Or not! Because that Orange/Red/White shape in the distance is King of the Mountains leader Duenas. Starting the day on 16 points, he has seen both Kohler and Kruopis reach 14 already, and realised he needs to be in the move to defend his lead.
The Euskaltel rider makes it across, but could only take 2 points for 3rd at the next climb. Luckily for him, with Traficante taking 1st ahead of Lietaer, it means he actually extends his lead on Kruopis and Kohler - who both missed out.
Duenas won both intermediate sprints, beating Kruopis and Lietaer on both occasions - the others not showing an interest.
But approaching 40km remaining, and the next Cat 2 climb on route, the breakaway's lead has been slashed to 30 seconds! RBC have been setting a very hard tempo in the peloton, in support of race leader Vanderbiest. They have nothing really to do today after losing GC leader Durasek, so they might aswell honour the race lead and make their presence felt like this!
It is bad news for the KoM point hunters in the break though, as they may not even get to fight for the 10 points on this next climb. Fraile is not going to sit back and get caught though, and drives up the pace in the group.
Only Kohler can follow which is ideal for him, as Fraile has not been picking up many KoM points. The Swiss rider drops him at the top anyway to take the full 10.
The rest of the break clung on for the remaining points, but Duenas only picked up 4, and Kruopis got nothing. This means that Kohler now has 24 KoM points, compared to Duenas on 22, Traficante on 16 and Kruopis on 14.
This should mean that the KoM jersey is switching CT teams and on its way to Vontobel. There are 16 points for the upcoming big 1st category climb, but none of the break will be scoring, as RBC catch them all - Kohler included - on the descent. Vanderbiest remains in the peloton for now - but fellow stage winner Maksimov has been dropped.
First attacker on the big climb is Gavazzi. Acting as a puncheur rather than sprinter in this race it seems!
Becerra, Vorganov and Ghisalberti motion to follow but do not get away. It does not matter too much though, as Gavazzi can not get far.
Now Froome goes. His manager ordered to attack early, and he has.
At first everybody just watches him go, before then there is the reaction - Hategaka and Cobo.
Di Maggio launches his move. No attack, just riding across to Cobo and Hategaka. Bilbao leads the peloton, followed by Gavazzi and Rabon
Next move is led by Betancourt. Rabon right on his wheel, Konovalovas, Wyss and Bilbao too.
Konovalovas does not have the legs though so stops his attack - bringing a halt to Wyss and Bilbao too!
The peloton is now reduced to just 29 riders. Vanderbiest is amongst the dropped, and looking back, so is Wegmann! The Kenya Airways leader made the blunder or being poorly positioned and is not having to fight hard to try and catch up again.
Hategaka, Di Maggio and Cobo are joined by Betancourt. Rabon is struggling a bit to make up the last bit of ground to also reach the group. Despite having Froome in the lead, it is Armee who now leads the peloton.
Speaking of Froome, he has flown up the climb! He hits the summit with a lead of one minute and 30 seconds.
The situation is:
Froome
Hategaka/Betancourt/Di Maggio/Cobo/Rabon + 1'30
Bilbao + 1'54
Peloton (27) + 2'10
Wegmann + 3'08
Vanderbiest's Group + 4'00
Wyss, Weening and Hermans lead the peloton over. It is stretched, but the riders at the back are just clinging on.
Bilbao rode clear of the peloton just over the top of the climb and reached the chasing group of riders. The problem is that Sander Armee has continue to push hard in the peloton - and he brings the chasing group back!
It is group of 31, and in here are: Chalapud Bilbao, Mancuso Arredondo, Fernandez Betancourt, Lejman, Didier Weening, Konrad Anza, Scarponi Rabon, Ghisalberti Becerra Vorganov, Konovalovas Hategaka, Ngock Ngue Armee, Serry, Barbin Hermans, Seeldraeyers Cobo, Rodriguez Gavazzi Chaabane Wyss Di Maggio, Haavardsholm
This just leaves one man in a solo lead, now of 1'20. Froome is looking good for the stage, but he would need some 4-5 minutes for overall victory, which will be very hard to reach.
The race is now on the uncategorised climb. Di Maggio pushes the pace of the peloton and the same strongest riders from the previous climb are the ones who follow him best: Cobo, Betancourt, Hategaka and Rabon.
Now sensing those on his wheel are struggling, Di Maggio attacks! Only Betancourt can follow.
They form a 2 man chasing group, and that gap to Froome is following. The Brit is still ahead, but now only by 30 seconds.
The stage win will be enticing to both Di Maggio and Betancourt, but they also have the overall race in mind, and Froome is not a threat there. These two are riding to the top 2 GC positions.
Trailing a further 45 seconds are Hategaka and Cobo
They in turn have 25 seconds on the remaining peloton. Again it is Armee doing the work. Weening and Bilbao on his wheel.
Up front, his teammate Froome seems to have stabilised his falling lead, and is on course for the stage win.
And there is his celebration. His 2nd victory of the season, at least ensuring he takes something from this race.
Now, who will become the race leader? It is Di Maggio vs Betancourt
Cesare di Maggio takes it! 2nd on the stage, 36 seconds behind Froome, but bonus seconds give him the race lead.
In the battle for 4th, 50 seconds later, Hategaka is able to beat Cobo.
The peloton are coming quick though, will they be given a time gap? Armee is just judged to have held on for 6th, edging out a fast finishing Wyss. Bilbao, Hermans and Weening complete the Top 10.
A gap of 16 seconds is awarded between Hategaka, Cobo and the peloton. Based on stage placings from the previous stages, it is Cobo who takes the final podium position ahead of the Rwandan.
5th overall now is Seeldraeyers, having picked up time bonuses at an intermediate sprint at the start of Stage 2, how important that has been! Positions 6 to 31 are all on the same time, so come down to aggregated stage positions. Who has come out best here?
After acting as Corioni's lead out man, Haavardsholm has come out best here and is 6th - a great result for Venchi. Rabon's sprint involvement helps him to 7th, while Becerra was also doing sprint leadouts and takes 8th overall. Hermans and Bilbao complete the Top 10.
The big loser here is Wegmann. Good enough to stick with the peloton, but badly positioned, he did not manage to regain contact - and it costs him what would probably have been 6th overall.
Last bit of admin for the day: Betancourt is best young rider, Quickstep are the best team.
