Azanza keeps the attacks coming

Jorge Azanza showed he's still got some of the form that carried him through the Giro d'Italia by attacking from afar on Monday's third stage of the Tour de Suisse.

Yesterday he attacked at the base of the final climb, today he went away a little earlier. The veteran formed part of the day's huge main break, giving his team some presence in the WorldTour race.

Not that it landed the team a top result, though. Azanza's move was never given much leeway, and in the end it was Peter Sagan who was able to raise his arms in celebration as he lead home a four-man lead group across the line in Meiringen.

That first group, also containing Mathias Frank, Rui Costa and Roman Kreuziger, had formed going over the hilly terrain in the finale, dropping a number of big-name riders in the process.

Euskaltel's main man, Igor Antón, was never in contention and looked off-colour, eventually coming home with the third main group at 1:47 alongside Ion Izagirre. Gorka Verdugo, so impressive in the prologue and strong yesterday, struggled en route to a 36th-place finish almost four minutes in arrears.

Results:

• (1, Peter Sagan (Cannondale), 4:46:27)
• 17, Ion Izagirre, 1:47
• 19, Igor Antón, s.t.
• 36, Gorka Verdugo, 3:57
• 68, Juan José Oroz, 9:52
• 106, Jorge Azanza, 17:08
• 107, Ricardo Mestre, s.t.
• 136, Adrián Sáez, 19:28
• 154, Robert Vrecer, 22:48