While many riders are using the Tour de Suisse to prepare for the Tour de France, it is a season highlight for Sergio Pardilla. After doing an excellent opening time trial, the Spanish climber continued to show good form when he finished 12th in today's hard uphill finish.

Peter Sagan (Cannondale) won the 3rd Tour de Suisse stage in typical Sagan fashion. Michael Albasini (Orica Greenedge) crossed the line 2nd and Sergio Henao (Team Sky) finished in 3rd place. Once again Sergio Pardilla and Louis Meintjes both showed good awareness to finish among the GC favourites once again.

The 203km stage that included 3 category 2 climbs saw Martin Kohler (BMC Racing) and Steven Kruijswijk (Belkin) break away early on. The 2 leaders will build up a lead around 4 minutes but Orica Greenedge had a clear plan for the day and brought the 2 escapees back with still 70km to go. This paved the way for mountain biking world champion, Nini Schurter (Orica-Greenedge) to attack. Valerio Agnoli (Astana), Laurent Didier (Trek Factory Racing), Tosh Van der Sande (Lotto Belisol) and Danilo Wyss (BMC) would all join Schurter to force open a minute lead. This move forced a number of teams to chase resulting in the peloton being whittled down.

The organised chase made sure the break was caught with Van der Sande being the last rider caught with 7km to go. The finale was an uphill drag that many thought would provide the platform for the GC rider to come out to play. This was not to be though as with Sagan and Albasini in the bunch there was atleast more than one team content on keeping things together for the sprint which was the eventual outcome.

"Today was a long stage with the first half being easy but the last half much harder, technical and nervous," Pardilla said. "The team worked well, protecting me and leaving well positioned for the last 3km’s which were uphill.

"In the last 150m, there was a chicane were 2 cyclists ahead of me both left the wheel and I could not close gap they left. I finished 5″ down on the winner but I am happy and optimistic of my condition. I look forward to the coming days.