Pablo Lastras won the third stage of the Vuelta a España this afternoon
Today's stage was from Petrer to Totana and saw Sylvain Chavenel out amongst the escapers.
With 30kms to go, Christophe Le Maval and Toftinov of Katusha went down as the four escapers were took their lead to close to four minutes.
Pablo Lastras of the Movistar team decided that he was going for it on the top of the final climb of the day with the peleton which had Bradley Wiggins close to front, not interested in chasing him back.
Chavanel was in a group of three chasing with Mikel Irizar and Rusian Podgorny but was it was a win for Pablo Lastras, who dedicated his victory to Tondo and Weylandts and injured riders like Soler, in a time of three hours and 58 minutes.
Nicholas Roche won the sprint of the peleton to finish fifth. Chris Froome was 12th with Bradley Wiggins thirteenth. Daniel Martin 20th, Ian Stannard 162nd and Mark Cavendish 170th.
Lastras now takes the leaders jersey leading Chavanel by four seconds. Daniel Martin is 21st, Nicholas Roche is 40th, Chris Froome 41st, Bradley Wiggins 42nd, Ian Stannard 150th and Mark Cavendish 184th out of 197 riders.
Lastras said: “I’m very happy because I’ve lost a few races like stages at the Giro and the Tour of Lombardy. “Today it was a question of attacking at the right time. I’ve raced with a lot of respect for my breakaway companions. With the experience I have, I know that any rider in a front group can be a danger.
“I have no secret. “I love my job and I do a lot of sacrifices. I’ve always believed in myself. This leader’s jersey of the Vuelta is a great reward after 27 years of practising cycling.”
Stage four is from Baza to Sierra Nevada and is 172kms long.
Pictures copyright of Tour of Spain/Graham Watson