Stage 3

The road

At the start

Off an aircraft carrier at Cádiz

The peloton rolls away from the deck of a Spanish aircraft carrier in Cádiz harbour, with Alejandro Valverde now in red after Movistar filled the top six. Today is 197 kilometres through the cork woods of the Grazalema park and over three third-category climbs, ending in the narrow streets of Arcos de la Frontera on a final kilometre that tilts upward — a finish drawn for a puncheur.

How it was won

1. 194 km to go

   Cousin doubles up

   The Europcar rider takes his second climb of the day as the break's eight-minute cushion is cut to three, Orica-GreenEdge on the front and making no secret of their faith in Matthews.

2. 220 km to go

   The red jersey hits the deck

   Twenty kilometres from Arcos, Alejandro Valverde goes down with two teammates. He remounts quickly but the group is gone, and he will finish the day nursing a sore back and without the lead.

3. 313 km to go

   Hansen blasts clear

   On a rise with 13km left the Australian, riding his tenth consecutive Grand Tour, takes twenty seconds in a blink and forces Sky to the front to keep Froome out of trouble.

4. 4At the line

   Four technical kilometres in Arcos

   A narrow bridge at 2.5km strings the peloton into single file, the tight turns of the old town do the rest, and then the road tilts up for a kilometre to the line. Caruso darts clear with fifty metres of daylight — and Michael Matthews, perfectly judged, comes past him to take the stage and the red jersey.

The result