Dan Martin poised to pounce on Beijing mountain test; with video

By Brian Canty

Ireland's Dan Martin looks poised to strike at the Tour of Beijing after keeping his powder dry on today's hilly third stage.

The Garmin - SHARP man was an uneventful 50th and is now 21st overall; among a group of 18 riders who are all 11 seconds down on stage 2 winner Philippe Gilbert (BMC Racing Team), who held the jersey today.

The Belgian is still five seconds clear of South African Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (Team Giant Shimano) in the battle for the overall with 2013 world road race champion Rio Costa (Lampreys Merida) two seconds further back in third.

Philip Deignan (Team Sky) also finished in the main bunch today. He crossed the line in 71st place and is now 39th overall at 27 seconds.

If Philip Deignan got an opportunity to go for a personal result tomorrow, he could go very close indeed, if not all the way; see here on stage 1 in China, second from left.

Today's stage took the riders from Yanqing to Qianjiadian Chao Yang Temple and despite seven climbs, none proved difficult enough to shake off the sprinters.

At the finish it was Martin's teammate, Tyler Farrar, who was quickest to the line.

He beat Friday's winner, Luka Mezgec (Team Giant Shinano) and Nikolas Maes (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) into second and third, respectively.

Tomorrow is where the race will be won and lost and starting in Yanqing, the riders head for the summit finish at Mentougou Miafeng Mountain.

At 12.6km in length and with an average gradient of 5.7 per cent, the ascent is difficult enough to cause decisive gaps between the riders, ensuring that the battle for the race overall will be decided here.