The second longest stage of the Vuelta a Espana brings the riders from Estepona to Vejer de la Frontera over 209.6 kilometres. The stage appears to be flat, but the tough final five kilometres will determine who will win this stage.

Jurgen Van den Broeck started this Vuelta without ambitions for the GC, but he’s preparing himself for the World Championships time trial. This time, he’s looking to a Grand Tour from another perspective.

“It’s more relaxed when you don’t have that daily pressure of riding a good GC of course," he said. "I get the opportunity to prepare myself for the World Championships time trial, that’s an ambition that I’ve expressed earlier. It’s not my intention to give my all every day, but to go full gas a few times during this Vuelta. The individual time trial is going to be a good test and training for the World Championships.

"As for today’s stage, I expect the same situation as on day two, when Chaves won. The stage isn’t tough at first sight, but because of the short ascent just at the end, the real sprinters won’t make it I think.”