Valverde wins third stage

Spain’s Alejando Valverde won stage three of the Volta a Catalunya yesterday.

Valverde, whose Movistar team was controversially sanctioned for pushing during Tuesday’s team time-trial, won the 188.3-kilometres mountainous route from Mataro to La Molina.

Adam Yates (Orica-Scott) was third, three seconds behind, alongside fellow Briton Geraint Thomas (Team Sky), who was sixth. Three-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome is fifth, 49secs back.