Irish cyclist Dan Martin is leading Volta a Cataluyna ahead of Contador

Irish cyclist Dan Martin won stage three of the Volta a Cataluyna today to seize the race lead.

The 29-year-old finished the 172-kilometres stage from Girona to the summit at La Molina ahead of a stellar field, with Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) second and Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale) third.

Tour de France champion Chris Froome (Team Sky) was eighth, one place ahead of another Briton, Hugh Carthy (Caja Rural-Seguros).

Martin holds a six-second overall lead from Contador, while Froome sits 22secs behind in seventh and his Team Sky colleague Geraint Thomas is ninth in the race, which finishes on Sunday.

Pure class. He beat the best and made it look easy. Well deserved. #mademyday @DanMartin86 pic.twitter.com/yx3KRuZULC

— Sean G (@theearlofsantry) March 23, 2016