A 3rd different terrain in 2 days as we move into a stage which favours the puncheurs. 6 short sharp climbs consisting of 5 Cat 3s and 2 Cat 2 for the breakaway to go for the KOM. And then a final ascent up to Eureka for the finish which should provide a great opportunity for the hills specialists.
Boswell is the clear favourite for the stage. He's also one of the few riders who isn't GC focussed and so should be able to ride without thinking about energy conservation.
Through the first KOM and Erdenebat wins it ahead of Olesen.
Still 145km remaining and we have a breakaway of 6. Their gap to the Peloton is 2'21. Olesen Croes Erdenebat Wohrer Chatarunga Samudio
Croes just takes the 2nd KOM ahead of Erdenebat.
Beautiful scenery for the riders as the gap is out to 4'09.
Croes takes the next KOM as well and moves into the lead. Olesen comes in 2nd with Wohrer 3rd. This 5 person group has a 2'39 lead with 95km remaining.
Olesen just takes the next KOM as Croes maintains his 2 point lead over the Dane. They've increased their lead to a touch over 3 minutes.
40km remaining as the gap is now down to 2 minutes. The Peloton becoming a bit stretched out as the teams at the front increase their speed.
Olesen takes the 5th KOM of the day with relative ease. He moves into the lead by 2 points. The gap remains at 2 minutes with 34km to go.
The Dane then leaves his former companions behind. 23km remaining and he quickly establishes a 19 second lead to the quartet. A further 50 seconds back to the Peloton.
Olesen wins the final KOM of the day as the Peloton makes the catch with 19km to the finish!
16km left for the Peloton which is down to 54 riders. Lovik leads in support of Meyer. Boswell is also near the front but looks to be there in support of Warbasse. Le Creuset also up there for Teuns and Henao.
Meyer goes on the attack with 8km to go. No instant reaction from anyone.
Meyer has himself a 21 second gap as he goes under the kite signalling 5km to go. McCormick are doing the chasing at the front of the Peloton.
1.5km now remaining. It's not looking too promising for Meyer as Vink sets the pace.
It's still Vink on the front with 1.2km remaining. His team mate Fabbro is in close pursuit.
700m to go and still a similar picture. Who will be making the decisive move?
Fabbro leads with 200m to go but Teuns and Boswell haven't given up the fight.
But the Italian holds on to win it by barely the width of his tyre! A strong showing from the Air New Zealand team is rewarded with a win for Matteo Fabbro. Teuns is 2nd.
Boswell takes 3rd, likely suffering somewhat from the chasing he did earlier. A mix of GC riders and Puncheurs make up the rest of the Top 15.
The first 19 riders are all awarded the same time. Some larger gaps further down.
Fabbro moves into the GC lead with the other Top GC riders moving into the Top 10.
The 3 stage winners all share the lead in the Points with Kopfauf in the Green jersey. Olesen leads the KOM with an 8 point gap to Croes. Mader leads the U25s with Lyu 2nd. It's then more than a 2 minute gap to 3rd and down. Bonduelle lead the Teams by 1'53 to Air New Zealand and Glanbia.
Tour of California - Stage 3 Report 
