The German cyclist Maximilian Schachmann narrowly missed his second stage win on the Basque Country Route, but continues to carry the yellow jersey of the overall leader.
The 31-year-old Berliner from the Soudal Quick-Step team only had to surrender to Spaniard Alex Aranburu and the Frenchman Romain Grégoire in the sprint. Aranburu was the first to cross the finish line in Beasain, but was disqualified because he had driven the wrong way through a roundabout in the final phase.
On the third section over seven ratings and 156.6 km, the German shooting star Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) took seventh place and claimed third in the overall ranking. Schachmann is now a two-second lead over Joao Almeida (Portugal/Uae Emirates-XRG), the Portuguese finished third behind him on Wednesday. Lipowitz is another four seconds back.
There will also be climbing on the fourth stage on Thursday over 169.6 km from Beasain to Markina-Xemein. The decision is likely to be made in a comparatively short but steep increase in Izua, according to the tip of which a descent is still due.