As it happened: Wout van Aert outsprints Kaden Groves on Vuelta a España stage 3

Hola and welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage of the third stage of the 2024 Vuelta a España!

Stage three is 191.5km in length, with two categorised climbs along the way as the peloton heads from Lousã to Castelo Branco. 

The climbing involved should entice a decent breakaway, but expect the sprint teams to be keen for another shot later this afternoon.

The Vuelta got underway on Saturday with a short and blustery time trial in Lisbon. Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates) was the winner, earning the honour of wearing the leader's red jersey. 

Yesterday's second stage saw Wout van Aert (Visma Lease-a-Bike) take the overall race lead despite losing out to Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) in the sprint finish.

Catch up with yesterday's stage here:

Vuelta a España: Kaden Groves wins mass sprint on stage 2 as Wout van Aert seizes the leader’s jersey

The teams are going through the sign-on process here in Lousã. Just 15 minutes before the flag is dropped.

It seems as though there are no non-starters this morning. Only Dylan van Baarle (Visma Lease-a-Bike) has been forced to leave the race early so far. 

The Dutchman crashed during yesterday's stage.

A brief update on the classification leaders ahead of stage three:

Wout van Aert leads the GC by three seconds to Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates). After his stage win yesterday, Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) leads the points competition.

Stefan Küng is wearing the King of the Mountains jersey today, tied on two points with Luis Ángel Maté (Euskaltel-Euskadi), while Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek) is leading the young riders' classification.

Max Poole (Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL) is just receiving some attention at the team car, so we might be waiting a few minutes for the flag drop.

It's unclear if the Brit has hit the deck.

The flag is dropped and we're underway for stage three!

Wout van Aert has gone for the full get-up today, red jersey and bibshorts.

It's not taken long for the first attacks and we've got a sense of déjà vu. 

Both Ibon Ruiz (Kern Pharma) and Luis Angel Maté (Euskaltel-Euskadi) are up the road for a second day running, with a 25-second gap currently.

The Spanish duo have stretched out their advantage to just under a minute.

There's quite a few uncategorised climbs coming up. 

Our first actual obstacle - Alto de Teixeira (17.4 km at 3.2%) - is still 60km away.

Equipo Kern Pharma and Euskaltel-Euskadi are proving their worth as wildcard picks for this year's Vuelta, making up the entirety of both breakaways so far.

In fact, we're now hearing that Unai Iribar (Equipo Kern Pharma) and Xabier Isasa (Euskaltel-Euskadi) are also in the break. 

While they're still both part of the Spanish wildcard ProTeams, at least the break has some variation to yesterday.

That quartet now has two minutes over the bunch.

There's a maximum of seven KoM points available today. Luis Ángel Maté clearly has his eye on that jersey.

Clearly some teams aren't happy with the make-up of this breakaway. 

Kasper Asgreen (T-Rex Quick-Step), Victor Campenaerts (Lotto Dstny) and Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ) all attempted to sneak off the front but with such firepower, they were quickly shutdown. 

Movistar's special edition kit for La Vuelta 2024 is ice-cold!

They'll be hoping it keeps them nice and cool with a local temperature of 27 degrees Celsius. 

The gap has been cut ever so slightly, perhaps as a result of those counter-attacks. 

Just 1:40 now.

We're back out to a 2:40 gap after that bit of excitement in the bunch.

If these early kilometres feel like they're passing slower than you'd like, why not have a browse through Cyclingnews' tech gallery from La Vuelta's opening stage TT?

Vuelta a España time trial tech gallery - A Cambrian explosion of aero bar tech

Were the escapees somehow able to make their advantage stick today, Xabier Isasa (Euskaltel-Euskadi) is the best placed in the overall standings at 1:24 back.

A lot of kilometres to cover before that can become even a slight possibility though?

150KM to go

The gap is up to 5:10 now. The average speed so far is a notch over 38km/h.

Here's our four leaders earlier on.

Outside of the Vuelta a España bubble, a big transfer deal was confirmed this morning.

Julian Alaphilippe joins Tudor Pro Cycling

Enric Mas (Movistar) has suffered a mechanical issue in the bunch.

White jersey leader Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek) leads the classification by six seconds over Josh Tarling (Ineos Grenadiers) but he nearly lost the jersey on stage 2 after a fan-caused crash forced him into a late chase. He didn't mince his words at the finish line.

Read more: ‘It’s a bit annoying that some people just don’t care’ - Vacek on fan-caused crash at Vuelta a España stage 2

Just over 13km until we start our first categorised climb of the day, the Alto de Teixeira.

We mentioned earlier about our tech gallery from the opening day TT, well here's another geeky marginal gain we spotted in the pits on Saturday.

Ineos Grenadiers using special fleet of superlight frames repainted by Formula 1 company at the Vuelta a España

We're at the foot of the Alto de Teixeira now. It's 17km-long but the final 3km are the steepest, at an average of 5.4%. 

There's quite a contrast in experience in the lead group. 

Luis Ángel Maté has started 230 Vuelta stages, while the other three escapees are all debutants this year.

Visma Lease-a-Bike and Alpecin-Deceuninck are the two squads pulling in the bunch.

Still 13.5km remaining on the climb, with the gap at 4:25.

So there's just 10km left on this category two climb.

After that, there'll be undulating roads for the following 55km as the race weaves its way to the day's intermediate sprint in Fundão. 

Robert Gesink, in his final professional race before hanging up his bike, is putting in a solid shift on the front for his Visma Lease-a-Bike team.

While the race continues to make its way over the Alto de Teixeira, here are some key figures from this year's race.

79. The edition of the race.

3,304km. The total distance of this year's route.

59,279m. The total vertical climbing metres in the 2024 edition.

The break is tackling the steepest section of the climb now.

Where's Wout?

There's some activity in the break as the summit comes into range. 

Maté wants the points and Isasa is trying to tee up his teammate for an attack.

Equipo Kern Pharma are keen to take the summit too though, it could well mean the polka dot jersey for whoever crosses it first.

KOM (ALTO DE Teixeira)

The veteran Maté gets the KOM and the maximum five points, with Ruiz hanging on for second-place and three points. 

Isasa claims the last singular point on offer.

That was some smart play by Euskaltel-Euskadi. All being well, they've guaranteed themselves a jersey on stage four.

100KM TO GO

The time gap has tumbled down to 3:34, possibly due to the antics in the break as they approached the KOM. 

Just a quick correction on the KOM points. Euskaltel actually managed a 1-2, meaning Maté sits top of the standings on seven points, with Isasa now second with three points.

After yesterday's nail-biting finale at the Tour de France Femmes, it made us think about the smallest margin of victory at La Vuelta.

It turns out it came back in 1984. Frenchman Erik Caritoux won the 39th edition by just six seconds over Alberto Fernández.

Alpecin have really pushed on in the bunch, cutting the gap to just two minutes. 

With today's stage taking place further inland, we're seeing the temperature become much more of a factor.

The current temperature on the ground is 33 degrees Celsius, and still rising...

With 80km to go, we're into the Castelo Branco district of Portugal.

The peloton are heading through the feed zone so the gap has stretched back out to three minutes.

Laurens Huys (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) is receiving some treatment from the medical car.

On closer inspection, it could we be some sunscreen!

Less than 25km until the intermediate sprint now.

We have a hunch that this might be an experienced time trial specialist...

Luis Ángel Maté is proving that age is merely a number. The Spaniard is the oldest rider at La Vuelta by two years and 57 days.

It hasn't stopped him from featuring in both breaks so far.

Robert Gesink is still at the front of the bunch.

The Dutchman is riding a special edition Cervélo bike to honour his 19 years of service at Visma Lease-a-Bike.

La Vuelta loves a good water cannon!

5km until our intermediate sprint in Fundão.

The break will almost certainly scoop up four of the five sprint placings, but there's still 10 points up for grabs for the fifth rider over the line.

Will Alpecin or Visma try to set something up for their respective quickmen?

Oscar Riesebeek (Alpecin-Deceuninck) is the other rider doing plenty of work at the head of the peloton.

The Dutchman is the oldest of the 54 debutants at this year's race.

The first three riders from the break to reach the intermediate sprint will also take six, four and two bonus seconds respectively.

Intermediate sprint (Fundão)

Isasa is first over the line at the intermediate sprint in Fundão. He claims 20 points, six bonus seconds, and €550.

50km to go

Wout van Aert flies out of the bunch to take the fifth and final place at the sprint. He claims 10 points to hand him the provisional lead in the points classification.

Kaden Groves opted to save his energy.

All those sprinting exploits has drastically cut the gap down to a mere 1:15.

There's now just 5.5km to the summit of the fourth category Alto de Alpedrinha climb (6.3 km at 3.3%).

The intermediate sprint results in full:

1. Xabier Isasa (20) (6")

2. Ibon Ruiz (17) (4")

3. Luis Ángel Maté (15) (2") 

4. Unai Iribar (12)

5. Wout van Aert (10)

Meanwhile, there's some interesting news coming out of the world of track cycling this afternoon regarding Matthew Richardson.

Australian track cyclist switches nationality to join Team GB

Just 1000m to the summit now. Only two points on offer at the top.

KOM (Alto de Alpedrinha)

Luis Ángel Maté takes the two points over the top. Equipo Kern Pharma's Unai Iribar picks up the singular point behind him.

That duo have now split from their respective teammates on the descent, pushing on ahead with a gap of around seven seconds.

The TV cameras have got themselves in a mix up on the descent. Xabier Isasa is now out in front on his own, with the trio chasing on behind him.

Isasa looks keen to get the combativity award today. He has a 10 second lead on the rest of the break, with the peloton a further minute behind.

If Isasa manages to win the prize for the day's most combative rider he'll earn himself a tidy €3,000 payday.

Another experienced rider is heading to Astana from next season.

Wout Poels joins Astana Qazaqstan

With 30km to go, Ruiz and Maté have sat up. 

Isasa has a lead of 50 seconds over the main pack but its dwindling as every kilometre ticks by.

Expect to see the sprint teams battling for the racing line during the final 10km. 

There's plenty of road furniture to deal with and then a minor uphill rise within the last 3km.

Isasa holds a 32 second lead over the peloton with 25km remaining.

We've got our eye on plenty of sprinters here in Portugal, but there's another fast finisher in the news today too.

Ethan Hayter leaves Ineos for Soudal-Quickstep

The peloton have Isasa in their sights. He'll surely have the combativity award wrapped up for today after his showing in the last 20km.

And we're all back together with 19km left on today's stage.

Now the sprint teams are coming to the fore, DSM-Firmenich PostNL have taken over the right side of the road.

EF Education-EasyPost are up near the front of the peloton as they protect their leader Richard Carapaz.

UAE Team Emirates are up there too, for a similar reason.

Just 12.5km remaining.

Israel-Premier Tech will be keen to bring Corbin Strong to the front of the race in the next few kilometres. He'll be guided by Riley Sheehan.

The peloton is riding along a fairly wide highway currently, it's making for a bit of a washing machine in the bunch.

Josh Tarling has come to the fore, guiding his Ineos Grenadiers teammate Thymen Arensman into a safe position.

The first few roundabouts and segments of road furniture successfully overcome. They've stretched the bunch out, though.

This run-in will really test the sprinters. Some sections of the final 1.5km ramp up to 4%.

Plenty of GC prospects looking to reach the 3km marker unscathed. Primož Roglič is up there looking for clean roads too.

It's been a relentless final 25km. The bunch have averaged 53.8km/h.

Visma Lease-a-Bike and Alpecin-Deceuninck are back at the front, leading us into the final 2km.

A late flyer from Victor Campenaerts (Lotto Dstny), no one can reel him in just yet!

Campenaerts still has a lead under the 1km banner.

But the Belgian is eventually reeled in. Intermarché are leading the way.

Groves versus van Aert.

And its the Belgian, Wout van Aert (Visma Lease-a-Bike) who claims revenge for yesterday's disappointment and wins stage three of the Vuelta a España.

Alpecin-Deceuninck's Kaden Groves takes second, with Euskaltel-Euskadi's Jon Aberasturi rounding out the podium in Castelo Branco.

A first win since February for Wout van Aert. He'll have certainly pleased his sponsors with this celebration.

Here's what Wout van Aert had to say about his 10th Grand Tour stage victory.

"It works to be patient. My plan was to do the opposite [and win yesterday]. To use my strength and to launch early, I think I surprised him [Kaden Groves] by going before even 200m."

"It was the perfect sprint for me."

More quotes from today's stage winner.

"Yesterday I felt good in the stage, and today again, and it was even warmer. The team was so strong, we had the whole race under control. They brought me into the perfect position in the end. They gave me the confidence to finish it off."

He added: "Unfortunately the fun is over, tomorrow I'll be happy to give the role of team leader over to Sepp [Kuss] and Cian [Uijtdebroeks]."

The Visma Lease-a-Bike rider isn't confident of holding onto the red jersey beyond tomorrow's stage, but he now leads the GC standings by 13 seconds ahead of Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates).