One hundred and seventy kilometers between Vitoria and Zumarraga were on the agenda on the third stage of the Tour of the Basque Country today. Spaniard Joaquim Rodriguez took the win and Alexis Vuillermoz finished with a group ten seconds behind in thirteenth position. 

As a result, he moves into 9th overall.

"I'm happy with the result, but the day was difficult," he said. "There was a lot of wind and a puncture at the 100km mark caused a lot of stress. What reassures me is that I was there at the end of the race on the Antigua wall which was very steep.

"Jean-Christophe (Péraud) had less luck than me, he had a puncture at the wrong time and had to work hard which cost him dearly. There are still three days of racing and I do not take anything for granted. Tomorrow, the stage is complicated but with easier gradients which does not suit me. "