It's the first day to really test the riders at 192.4km and with cobbled sections throughout. Those who finished in the front group yesterday set themselves up well for further gains today while some will need to be more aggressive to gain back the time they lost with their positioning on yesterday's stage.
170km to go on today's stage and we have a "breakaway" of no less than 26 riders! They have a gap of 3'36. The main riders to look out for are:
GC
COB
Kuroeda
+ 1'57
77
Skala
+ 2'12
74
Lecourt De Billot
+ 2'20
75
Peng
+ 2'21
75
Baugnies
+ 2'24
78
Bovenhuis
+ 2'29
74
Van der Haar
+ 2'36
75
Mestric
+ 2'36
74
Kaislavuo
+ 2'42
73
Breen
+ 2'51
78
Van Kiersbulck
+ 3'31
78
They reach the first Cobbled section with 133km still to ride and the gap, which did reach 4'45, is back down to 3'42.
The cameras missed the intermediate sprint but it was won by Skala.
A number of teams sharing the work at the front of the Peloton as the gap is brought back down to 2'32 with still 90km to go.
Mestric leads them through the 2nd intermediate sprint which is slap bang in the middle of the Oude Kwaremont cobblestone section.
50km still to ride and the Peloton has been reduced to only 36 riders! It appears all of the main favourites have made the cut. They are 1'48 behind the leaders on the road.
The first attack from a favourite comes from Anderberg (73rd @ + 2'08) with still 44km to the line.
This doesn't last very long though.
Potential disaster for Blythe who punctures and falls back in the long line of riders!
The breakaway down to 11 riders with 30km as we start seeing attacks as their lead over the "Peloton" is only a minute.
Not looking good for Vanbilsen who is suffering on these uphill sections! His team not providing much help either.
18km to go now and Altur attacks from the group of GC favourites. This springs Zepuntke into action.
15km to go and it's now Trentin who gives it a shot!
The last of the breakaway is swept up with 11km to go as Altur tries to attack again!
7.5km to go now and we have a leading trio of Van der Haar, Altur and Trentin.
Only 4km to go now. The same trio have a 24 second gap to a group including Baugnies, Zepuntke and Anderberg.
The sprint is underway between the 3 leaders with 800m to go!
Trentin just wins it! Van der Haar is 2nd and Altur is 3rd.
At + 30" it is Aker-MOT duo Kaislavuo and Anderberg. They are joined by Baugnies who has enough in the tank to take 6th ahead of Zepuntke.
Two of the breakaway are 8th and 9th which are Bovenhuis and Lecourt De Billot.
Kump is 10th and leads an 11 man group over the line at + 2'27.
Stallaert put in a late sprint to ensure he and a few others were awarded the same time as Kump.
Our new GC leader though all of this is Van der Haar who put in a great ride today having been in the breakaway and conserving the energy to finish 2nd. The gaps are small though as 15th is only + 59" and even Stallaert in 19th is only + 1'33.
Van Asbroeck only just holds onto his lead in the Points. Nych still leads the KOM after there were no points available today. Anderberg leads the U25s. Minions top the Teams Classification.
Benelux Challenge - Stage 3 Report 
