132km of similar terrain to yesterday although the hills are a bit steeper and more numerous.
The favourites are puncheurs although those with a good kick are the top guys to look out for so it seems the bookies are anticipating a reduced bunch sprint or a
tough sprint on road that isn't flat.
We have an early breakaway of 3 consisting of BNZ duo Watson and Edmondson who have Dowsett for company. It is yet to be seen whether other later attacks will be set free by the Peloton.
No one else joins our front 3 as the Peloton weren't allowing it. The gap is 2'27 with 93km to go.
Edmondson powered away from his companions and won the KOM sprint.
73km to go and Van Stayen is leading the charge with the other 2 riders swept up and the gap to the lone escapee only 1'18. Interesting tactics here.
The gap stretches out to 2 minutes but we hit the hill and, again, it's Van Stayen who charges up and brings the gap back to a minute. This pace really causing trouble in the Peloton and some riders could lose time if they get caught out here.
30km still remaining and just before the KOM, Edmondson has been caught by the work of 2 Zalgiris riders.
Leknessund wins the 2nd of our 2 KOM sprints today. He has Betancourt for company here.
We have the Peloton all together with 17km to go but the final kick up this hill is bound to split it once again.
13km now and Betancourt this time has De Gendt for support. A few riders trying to close the gap to these 2.
9.5km and the Zalgiris duo have a 40 second lead! It took a while for someone in the Peloton to decide to chase and in the end it's Juul-Jensen who you'd think would fancy his chances on a stage like this but clearly not his job today.
It's all back together with 4.5km to go and it will be a battle of who has the quickest uphill sprint!
2km and no one fancying kicking off here as Juul-Jensen is still on the front.
Coming under the kite and Betancourt is the first to make his move. He has Bakelants and Vogt closest to him.
Round the final bend and these 3 a long way clear with 300m to go but Vogt can't keep with the other 2 where Betancourt is still in the lead.
And Bakelants takes it on the line as he came up with a lot of speed! That's 2 stages in a row for Carrefour and again it's not for Van Stayen. Betancourt is 2nd.
Vogt cracks just before the line and slips to 5th as Carpenter flies through in 3rd with Pellaud 4th. Di Maggio is 6th.
Almost everyone else through safely just behind the front 7, no time gaps though. This means Kuboki is still in the GC lead! However, he'll be losing it in the Mountain TT tomorrow.
Tour of Japan - Stage 3 Report 
