The tricky, uphill finish proved tough enough to cause several splits in the bunch, but Richie Porte (Team Sky), Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) and Nairo Quintana (Movistar) all finished safely in the bunch to ensure their overall ambitions were not harmed. Strong team time trials from their respective squads and safe finishes on stage three ensured all three are within 40 seconds of Michal Kwiatkowski (Omega Pharma-Quickstep), the current blue jersey holder, with the first big summit finish of this year’s race awaiting on stage four.

Contador’s team performed a huge effort for their team leader, driving the pace in the bunch to keep El Pistolero out of danger and in a good position heading into the finale, while also setting up Daniele Bennati  for a top-ten finish on the stage. Porte meanwhile finished six seconds back, and though another split saw Quintana lose eight further seconds, all are handily placed overall to start setting about attacking their overall ambitions.