Intro:

Michael Matthews of Australia sprints clear to win the third stage of La Vuelta and take the leader's red jersey in Arcos de la Frontera, Cadiz, Spain on Monday (25th August).

Script:

Heading into Day 3 of La Vuelta, Alejandro Valverde led the standings, yet that would all change on an exhilirating Day 3.

Big names Chris Froome and Alberto Contardo sat some 30 seconds off the lead as the day got under way.

Giampaolo Caruso led for much of the day, yet the Italian faded away late on.

Australian Michael Matthews from the Orica GreenEdge team sprinted clear in a dramatic race for the line to win in Cadiz.

Matthews seemed to ease past Ireland's Daniel Martin in the final 50 metres of the race to take the stage and the overall leader's red jersey.

Matthews leads La Vuelta ahead of Columbian Nario Quintana in second and Spain's Alejandro Valverde dropped to third.

Contador and Froome sit 23 and 31 seconds off Matthew's lead respectively.

And while the Australian was delighted with his stage victory, he didn't forget to praise the effort of his fellow GreenEdge rider...

SOUNDBITE: (English) Michael Matthews, stage winner:

"Today we had to take control from the start because we had a really good chance for me to win the stage. So we took control from the very begining and as you can see by the finish non of my team are still here, they sacrificed themselves 110 percent today and I'm so amazed at myself to be able to deliver in the final."

La Vuelta resumes tomorrow with Mairena del Alcor to Cordoba.