Alberto Contador was unable to follow the explosive Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) on today's final climb in the third stage of the Volta a Catalunya but he managed to put time into both Chris Froome and Nairo Quintana. With the final climb suiting puncheurs like Rodriguez, the Tinkoff-Saxo leader said that today's stage was all about damage control and that tomorrow's queen stage suits him much better.

Today’s 162 kilometer long third stage of Volta a Catalunya was the first big test between the contenders for the overall win of the race as it finished with an uphill finish to La Molina – a perfect scenario for a thrilling battle between the big favourites, Tinkoff-Saxo’s Alberto Contador, Chris Froome (Sky), Joaquim Rodriguez (Movistar) and Nairo Quintana (Movistar).
 
On the penultimate climb, Tinkoff-Saxo went to the front of the pack setting the pace and started shaving down the time difference between the pack and the six breakaway riders. Taking on the final climb, Katusha and Movistar took part of the pace making in the field which was soon stretched out and riders started to drop while the front group crumbled.
 
With six remaining kilometers, the last standing escapee was reeled in while Movistar pushed the pace and Tinkoff-Saxo’s Alberto Contador was well protected by teammates.

The race didn’t open before the penultimate kilometer, where Jakob Fuglsang (Astana) justed drifted away from the pack. When he was caught, Chris Froome (Sky) launched a counter-attack. Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) continued the pace as Froome paused and Contador followed the Katusha-rider and finished a few seconds behind his compatriot while Nairo Quintana (Movistar) came in third.
 
“The day was made harder by the cold," Contador said. “We've all started the climb a bit blocked and the race has exploded more than we thought because the climb was not hard.

“The important thing now is to recover as best as possible for tomorrow, which is harder. Today was a matter of controlling the attacks. The truth is that Purito has an incredible spark and I could not hold him in the final sprint.

“I hope to have good legs in Vallter 2000, which is harder, and will see how we go. The level of this year's Volta is awesome and also the really good news is that all those who have finished in front want to win."
 
“The boys did a solid job keeping a high pace and protecting Alberto until the final kilometers of the stage where it was all down to the GC riders to fight it out," said Tinkoff-Saxo DS, Philippe Mauduit after the stage. "Rodriguez is a difficult man to beat in an explosive final like this and I’m happy to see Alberto finishing second ahead of both Quintana and Froome.

"Tomorrow’s stage will be harder with longer climbs and I expect Katusha to be in charge of the pace and we’ll wait and see how the race develops."

You can read our preview of the fourth stage here and follow our live coverage at 15.15 CET on CyclingQuotes.com/live.