Dan Martin and Nicolas Roche among very strongest men in frantic Vuelta summit finish

Nicolas Roche put in another really strong climbing performance at the Vuelta today and retains his points and climbers' classification jerseys. Dan Martin was 5th today, with both Irishman coming home in a heavyweight select group just three seconds down on stage winner and new overall leader Chris Horner.

By Gavin McLoughlin

After Nicolas Roche’s splendid stage victory yesterday, there was a pair of strong Irish performances on stage 3 of the Vuelta a Espana as both Roche and Dan Martin finished in the top ten today, Monday.

The Irish duo again showcased their fine climbing form as Martin crossed the line atop the third-category Mirador de Lobeira in 5^th place, with Roche arriving home in 9^th. Chris Horner of Radioshack-Leopard was the victor on the day, finishing 3 seconds ahead of Martin and Roche.

The ten-second time bonus on offer to Vuelta stage winners means the 41-year-old Horner takes over the race-leadership, with Roche now in third overall, 11 seconds behind. However, Roche maintains his grip on the points, mountains and combined classifications.

As for Martin, a marvellous ride elevates the Garmin-Sharp leader into 33^rd place on general classification, 1:44 off the red jersey. He will certainly hope to emulate his cousin’s triumph and bag a stage win for himself.

The result is an exciting indicator of Roche and Martin’s condition and this Vuelta looks set to provide plenty of thrills for Irish cycling fans. An almost unspeakably arduous parcours means there will be an abundance of opportunities for climbers.

A place for both Irishmen in the top ten on general classification is easily conceivable, and with the World Championships in Tuscany also set to favour the lightweights, an Irish assault on the rainbow jersey looks a tantalising prospect.

Today was a 185-kilometre race from Vigo to the top of the third-category Mirador de Lobeira.

The early breakaway was a quintet of Pablo Urtasun (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Fabricio Ferrari (Caja Rural), Cyril Bessy (Cofidis), Vicente Reynès (Lotto-Belisol) and Luca Dodi (Lampre-Merida). A watchful peloton kept this group well under control all day, and the chasers were content to let the escapees dangle about 2 minutes up the road for much of the latter half of the stage.

Inside the final 50 kilometres and there was a flurry of activity as changing wind conditions meant nervous general classification contenders fought for position at the front of the pack. A sizeable crash at a sharp left-hand bend split the bunch in two, and there was a brief ceasefire up top when the escapees were reeled in with 37 kilometres left.

This almost allowed those caught behind the pile-up to re-establish contact, but the race was again blown apart when Astana and Movistar ratcheted up the pace on an exposed piece of road that was battered by crosswinds.

But soon the crosswinds were gone and the race flowed back together. Orica-Green Edge led the charge for the lower slopes of the final climb, and when the road went upwards Juan Antonio Flecha (Vacansoleil) was the first to try his luck. However, the Spaniard was quickly caught and passed by Ivan Santaromita (BMC).

The Italian champion initially looked strong but soon he was gasping for air, his legs running out of oxygen. His move had been poorly-timed, but Chris Horner’s was not.

With Roche and Martin among those scrapping it out near the front, the American thrust himself forward with about a kilometre to go and could not be caught.

Tomorrow’s leg is a 189-kilometre run from Lalín to Fisterra. The route undulates all day, but the only categorised climb is the third-category Mirador de Ezaro which peaks about 45 kilometres from home.

There will be many tired legs by the time the peloton reaches that tricky ascent, so it may well be a select contingent that leads the run to a finish line that sits atop a short, sharp ramp. Both Irishmen will be in with a shout of glory if they make it to the end with the lead group.

@gavmcloughlin