After winning three stages in the Dubai Tour, Marcel Kittel had hoped to add to his tally in the Vuelta a Andalucia but the big German had to abandon on today's tough stage, having no power in his legs. The day was a bad one for his Giant-Shimano team as Tom Dumoulin suffered from cramps and lost plenty of time.

Tom Dumoulin has dropped down from his second place overall at the Ruta del Sol after the race exploded on the short sharp ramp to the finish. Simon Geschke was the first Team Giant-Shimano rider over the line, coming home in 35th place, 1-minute down on stage winner Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) who reinforces his overall lead, while Dumoulin came home in 50th after succumbing to cramps on the final climb.

The stage was tough right from the off with the first 35km essentially all uphill. The day’s breakaway pulled clear on these early slopes and built up a steady advantage before gradually being reeled back into the fold as the race hit crunch time. The teams of the GC favourites ramped up the pace on the slopes of the final climb, with three kilometres to go. Dumoulin held on until the final climb at which point the race splintered, leaving just eight riders out front to contest the stage win.

Marcel Kittel was unfortunately having a bad day in the saddle on today’s stage and withdrew from the race, preferring to rest rather than push on and make things worse. Tomorrow’s stage is another tough one, with a mountain top finish in Cabra.

“It was a tough day out there today," sports director Christian Guiberteau said. "Unfortunately Marcel had to withdraw from the race as he just didn’t have the power today. It is better for us to rest him and to concentrate on bigger goals further down the line.

“We had Tom, Simon and Daan Olivier in the front group of around 40 riders as it hit the final climb and Simon held on longest before succumbing to the fast pace set on the front.”

Dumoulin described the race like a nightmare.

"It was a weird day today," he said. "I was in the front group until I started cramping. It got so bad that I had to stop with 200m to go. Looking at the finish line and not being able to go forward because of cramps felt like a bad dream.”

The race continues tomorrow with its queen stage. You can read our preview of the race here.