Axel Laurance launches to victory in Itzulia after breakaway bonanza

Axel Laurance was victorious after going clear with Igor Arrieta, from a large breakaway group inside the final 30 kilometres, and the duo cooperated well all the way until the final kilometre, where that cooperation dwindled. Arrieta was the first to attempt a shot at glory, but followed the wheel well and produced a thumping kick to take the stage win.

There were no changes in the upper echelons of the general classification, but one of the main talking points of the day was the abandonment of Isaac del Toro due to a crash.

With just over 90 kilometres remaining on stage 3, the breakaway had formed, and it had swelled in size, with it containing notable riders including: Ilan Van Wilder (Soudal Quick-Step), Lorenzo Fortunato (XDS Astana), Guillaume Martin (Groupama FDJ), Tobias Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility), Axel Laurance (INEOS Grenadiers), Igor Arrieta (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), as well as others.

It wasn't to be for Isaac del Toro as just after the breakaway had formed, the Mexican had to abandon the race after crashing heavily, with an update on his condition to follow.

The breakaway built up a comfortable margin of the Decathlon CMA CGM-led peloton, who were controlling the pack for race leader, Paul Seixas, and were happy to let the break push on ahead.

Heading into the final 30 kilometres, the break held a two-minute margin over the peloton, and with the break splitting apart on the category 2 and three climbs situated within the remaining distance. 

Pushing on from the break were Arrieta and Laurance, who shot off and took over 33 seconds on the reduced group of 9 chasers behind, and it appeared either of them was going to take the glory in Basauri with the peloton backing off the tempo.

Some attacks did occur from inside the peloton, but none were to make any significant inroads within the remaining kilometres to the line.

Arrieta and Laurance continued to motor, gaining more time as the kilometres dwindled down, their advantage going to just under a minute.

Laurance put the power down with 4 kilometres to go in an attempt to drop Arrieta, to no avail and the duo were set to scrap it out for the victory on the lumpy run in to the finish, with the duo lacking any coherent cooperation, and the gap between the chasers behind was reduced, but there wasn't enough ground for them.

Arrieta was the first to bite up the hill finish with Laurance glued to the wheel, phenomenally and opened up his sprint on the flatter section, 100 metres before the line to take victory.

The Itzulia Basque Country continues with stage 4 on Thursday, which is slated to be a punchy affair in the saddle.