With many riders still bitter to have missed the winning breakaway the day before, stage 3 started on a very high tempo but nobody managed to go clear before the km 22. That’s where 14 riders created the escapee of the day: Francis De Greef and Pieter Jacobs (Silence-Lotto), Javier Benitez Roman Juan José Cobo Acebo (Saunier Duval), Gregory Rast (Astana), Gustavo Cesar-Veloso and David Garcia Dapena (Karpin-Galicia), Matteo Priamo (CSF-Navigare), Danail Petrov (Benfica), Gregory Habeaux (Mitsubishi-Jartazi), Ruslan Ivanov (Serramenti-PVC Diquigiovanni), Dimitri Nikandrov, Miguel Angel Rubiano Chavez and Luca Zanasca (Centri della Calzatura).
The peloton accumulated a maximum delay of 4.50 at km 71. Rubiano Chavez passed in first position at the first King of the Mountain point (km 65.6). Garcia Dapena accelerated strongly for winning the second mountain price of the day (km 117.4). It created a split in the front group.

Six riders followed him: Cesar Veloso, Benitez, Jacobs, Priamo, Rubiano Chavez and Zanasca. Rast managed to bridge the gap by himself in five kilometers. At the time, the peloton was situated 3.50 behind. Petrov and De Greef also rejoined the head of the race. With 27km to go, the peloton was at 5.11.

In the last climb, with eight kilometers to go, Rubiano Chavez attacked and Priamo made the effort to accompany him. Quickly, one after each other, the two Karpin-Galicia riders Garcia Dapena then Cesar Veloso went across with 6km to go. In the sprint of four riders, Priamo was the fastest. The Italian won the stage ahead of Rubiano Chavez. Coming 3^rd, Garcia Dapena, took the yellow jersey.