At precisely two o'clock, the starting gun sounded in Bétera, Spain, for the start of the third stage. The peloton set off without Boven. The talented rider was able to experience top-level racing in Valencia but was forced to withdraw due to illness. After a quiet start, five riders took a one-minute lead on the peloton. Barely two hours into the race, Team Jumbo-Visma suffered another blow. Michel Hessmann was also unable to continue. The German was suffering too much from a painful knee.

With five riders, the team continued in good spirits, but no one managed to break away. "We wanted to give it a go with Tosh, but unfortunately, he was brought back quickly. That left Thomas to attack, just like yesterday”, sport director Maarten Wynants said.

The attack came about thirty kilometres from the finish, just below the summit of the Port del Garbí. The 21-year-old Gloag tried to close the gap on the escapees but saw that he was not getting much help from the peloton. "Then he wisely held back and waited for Koen and Sam. He showed his good legs again”, Wynants said of the British rider.

In the final kilometres, the reduced peloton came within a few seconds of the three remaining leaders but couldn't close the gap. Wynants and his men had their plan for the sprint ready. "We knew it was going to be very difficult for Olav today. That's why we tried to get Koen in position for the sprint, and it worked well, but unfortunately, the three riders stayed in front.

Gloag finished in the same group as Bouwman. Tomorrow's queen stage in Valencia is on the agenda. "A very tough stage with more than 3500 altimetres and an uphill finish”, the sports director said. "The final climb doesn't seem to suit Tom, but with the form he's in now, anything is possible. Tomorrow we will do everything we can to give him the best support for the final climb.”