Martín beats Ribalkin in Bidasoa stage 3

Diputación Avila - Smilekers rider Victor Martín beat yesterday's triumphant Alexey Rybalkin to take out stage three of the Vuelta al Bidasoa  earlier today. Naturgas Energía's Víctor Etxeberria hung tough to maintain his top ten overall placing.

Day three, taking in 91,5 kilometres from and to Orio, saw numerous breaks form and then dissolve, involving among others Naturgas pair Alain González and Jon Larrinaga, before Rybalkin made his move on the feared Alto de Aia close to the finish line. Rybalkin was eventually joined up front by Martín, strong in third place yesterday, who went on to outsprint the Russian for a noteworthy victory. The 21-year-old, who's team gets it's name from Carlos Sastre's charity organization, is still 46 seconds down on Ribalkin on GC though.

Third was taken by Mario González of Gomur Ferroat 19 seconds in arrears, while Naturgas' Etxeberria came in with the first small chase group at 47 seconds in 19th. Jon Larrinaga came in six seconds further back in 22nd.

Stage results:

• 1, Victor Martín (Diputación Avila), 2:13:45
• 2, Alexey Rybalkin (Lokosphinx), s.t.
• 3, Mario González (Gomur Ferroat), 0:19
• 4, Ariel Sívori (Azysa), 0:22
• 5, Quentin Pacher (Entente Sud Gascogne), 0:36
• 19, Víctor Etxeberria, 0:47
• 22, Jon Larrinaga, 0:53
• 36, Mikel Iturria, 1:54
• 57, Alain González, 5:06
• 91, Damien García, 9:30
• 110, Imanol Estévez, 14:55

Full results here.

Photo: www.deportesenavila.blogspot.com