Madrazo (7th), Herrada and recovered Plaza seeked for the fore at Tour of Beijing stage 3, won by Deignan (RSH) as Martin (THR) kept the overall lead Movistar Team made another notable performance during stage 3 of the Tour of Beijing (UCI World Tour), the most demanding stage of the inaugural edition over 162 kilometers and four categorized climbs -the two latter ones, Xiezishi and Erpuliang, into the final 30k- on the way to Yong Ning. Spaniard Ángel Madrazo was again the telephone squad's top finisher as five of their riders -Lastras (15th), Plaza, Pardilla and Intxausti completed the Blue presence- made the bunch just one second behind the three leaders of the day, with Irishman Philip Deignan (RSH) winning while Germany's Tony Martin (THR) kept the red leader jersey.
Jesús Herrada was the first of the lads directed by Yvon Ledanois to show up on front, attacking from the bunch in the second-to-last climb in pursuit of the break of the day, though caught before the summit. At the descent, Madrazo and Plaza -in good form at last after his long injury, the rider from Ibi in a great 13th overall- filtered into a 15-rider group reeled back before the start of Erpuliang. There, it was again Madrazo who gave it a try before the strong pace into the peloton and several attacks formed the trio leading the way home, with Madrazo sprinting furiously to the line in search for a victory still hiding to him on Chinese soil. The race will get back to the outskirts of Beijing tomorrow with the longest stage: 189k on day 4 from Yanqing to the Olympic Rowing Centre in Shunyi.