Martin attacked out of esteemed company, leaving Alberto Contador and Romain Bardet trailing behind as he surged up the final hill to La Molina, for his first WorldTour win since Il Lombardia two years ago.
The day began with the overall leader Nacer Bouhanni (COF) abandoning. Bouhanni complained of food poisoning yesterday, dropping back to the medical car at one point in stage 2, which he ultimately one. He took the start today, but almost immediately began to fall back, eventually bowing to his body's demands when he was seven minutes down halfway through the stage.
That left Ben Swift (SKY) in the effective lead of the race, but he was never likely to feature at the front of today's stage, with four category 1 climbs ensuring that only the cream of the climbing crop were at the front by the end of the stage,
A group of around 40 riders formed the main group as the race came into the final stages, first hunting down Peter Weening (ROO) who had soloed downhill to overtake what remained of the breakaway, and then Louis Vervaeke (LTS) who did the same to Weening before he to was caught 9km from the line.
Wout Poels made the first bid for the win after a great run through the corners before the final climb from Sky, but was reeled back in. Quintana faked an attack, before Richie Porte (BMC) attacked next, leading a group of the favourites up the hill.
They all crested together, and it was Quintana who looked to have caught them napping, breaking clear before Dan Martin countered, taking a lead of three bike lengths around 500m from the line as Quintana could only look on. Contador, Bardet and Tejay van Garderen (BMC) gave chase, but Dan Martin had enough left in his legs to maintain his gap to win by two seconds from Contador.
Tim de Waele
Tomorrow's queen stage from Baga to Port Aine is likely to be a decisive day in the race, but after his strong showing today over three category 1 climbs, Dan Martin will feel in with a shout of retaining his lead, while the question of whether Froome and Quintana were holding back today may well be answered.
Stage results
1. Dan Martin (EQS) 5:00:27
2. Alberto Contador (TNK) + :02
3. Romain Bardet (ALM) + :02
General Classification
1. Dan Martin (EQS) 14:08:18
2. Alberto Contador (TNK) + :06
3. Romain Bardet (ALM) + :08
4. Tejay van Garderen (BMC) + :12
5. Richie Porte (BMC) + :19
6. Davide Formolo (CPT) + :21
7. Chris Froome (SKY) + :22
8. Ilnur Zakarin (KAT) + :22
9. Geraint Thomas (SKY) + :28
10. Rigoberto Uran (CPT) + :28
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