Wednesday 23 March 2016 19:00, UK
Ireland's Daniel Martin out-climbed some of the biggest names in cycling to win stage three of the Volta a Catalunya and claim the overall lead.
Excitement was expected, the race having reached the Pyrenees, and cycling fans were not disappointed as Martin (Etixx - Quick-Step) beat Alberto Contador to the finish line.
The 172.1km ride from Girona finished at the La Molina summit and Martin, who triumphed in this week-long race in 2013, finished two seconds ahead of Contador (Tinkoff), Romain Bardet (AG2R) and Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing).
Team Sky's Chris Froome, a dual Tour de France winner, finished eighth on the day, 12 seconds behind Martin, one place ahead of another Briton, Hugh Carthy (Caja Rural-Seguros).
Froome and Nairo Quintana had attacked as a group of 30 riders tackled the fourth climb of the day but Martin stayed with the leaders and then launched his own bid for glory 500m from home.
And the 29-year-old dug deep in the closing stages to keep his pursuers at bay as they reached the snow-capped summit.
However, overnight leader Nacer Bouhanni withdrew from the race midway through the day due to illness, having won the first two stages in sprint finishes.
Thursday's fourth stage stays in the mountains with a 172.2-kilometre ride from Baga to a pure climber's summit finish at Pyrenean ski station Port Aine.
The race finishes on Sunday and Martin currently holds a six-second overall lead from Contador, while Froome sits 22 seconds behind in seventh and his Team Sky colleague Geraint Thomas is 10th.
Speaking after his victory, Martin paid tribute to his team mates.
The guys were incredible," he said. "Since this morning they said they will ride for me and they did a fantastic job. It's great to see how much confidence they have in me, and this only makes me stronger.
"There was some headwind on the climb, so it was important to time the attack to perfection on that steep part of La Molina."
Stage three result
1. Daniel Martin (Ire/Etixx - Quick-Step) 5:00:27"
2. Alberto Contador (Esp/Tinkoff) +2"
3. Romain Bardet (Fra/AG2R) Same Time
4. Tejay van Garderen (US/ BMC Racing) ST
5. Richie Porte (Aus/BMC Racing) +9"
6. Davide Formolo (Ita/Cannondale) +11"
7. Ilnur Zakarin (Russia/Katusha) +12"
8. Chris Froome (Gbr/Team Sky) ST
9. Hugh Carthy (Gbr/Caja Rural) +18"
10. Rigoberto Uran (Col/Cannondale)
General classification
1. Daniel Martin (Ire/Etixx - Quick-Step) 14:08:18"
2. Alberto Contador (Esp/Tinkoff) +6"
3. Romain Bardet (Fra/AG2R) +8"
4. Tejay van Garderen (US/ BMC Racing) +12"
5. Richie Porte (Aus/BMC Racing) +19"
6. Nairo Quintana (Col/Movistar) ST
7. Davide Formolo (Ita/Cannondale) +21"
8. Chris Froome (Gbr/Team Sky) +22"
9. Ilnur Zakarin (Russia/Katusha) ST
10. Geraint Thomas (Gbr/Team Sky) +28"
