Tour de France champion Chris Froome suffered a blow in his bid to add the Vuelta a Espana title.

Ireland’s Dan Martin moved up to third overall at the Vuelta A Espana yesterday after finishing in second place on another punishing day in the saddle.

Despite the change in leader, Nicolas Roche and Dan Martin remain in third and fourth places respectively.

Nicolas Roche remains third overall at the Vuelta a Espana following day three of the race from Mijas to Malaga yesterday. 

Sagan captured his first Grand Tour stage in more than two years.

Orica GreenEDGE’s Esteban Chaves is the new race leader after winning stage two.

Nicolas Roche has been named in Team Sky’s nine-man roster for the Vuelta a Espana, which starts on Saturday in the Andalucian town of Puerto Banus on the Costa del Sol.

Froome has begun a series of physiological tests he hopes can silence those who doubt he is racing clean.