Maximilian Schachmann extended his lead in the Tour of the Basque Country with a second stage win today ©Getty Images

Maximilian Schachmann, riding for Mitchelton-Scott, won the third stage of the Tour of the Basque Country today to extend his overall lead after avoiding a crash in the final five kilometres that put paid to many of the overall and stage favourites.

The German rider, winner of the opening stage time trial, carried a 10-seconds advantage into today’s 191.1km route from Sarriguren to Estibaliz, with Team Sky’s Michal Kwiatkowski in second place and Julian Alaphilippe, winner of yesterday’s second stage, a second further back.

But by the end of the day Schachmann’s lead had been extended to more than half-a-minute in this International Cycling Union WorldTour event.

Kwiatkowski and his Team Sky partner Geraint Thomas, Britain’s 2018 Tour de France winner, were among those caught up in the crash, as were Alaphilippe and Enric Mas, both with Deceuninck – Quick-Step.

With the pressure largely off, Schachmann attacked with 200 metres to go and pulled clear of the bunch to finish in 4 hours 47min 57sec.

Italy’s Diego Ulissi and Enrico Battaglin, representing UAE Team Emirates and Team Katusha-Alpecin respectively, were second and third, given the same time.

Schachmann thus has an overall time of 8:34:31, 33 seconds clear of Astana’s Ion Izagirre of Spain and Bora-Hansgrohe’s Austrian rider Patrick Konrad.

Daniel Martinez of Colombia, riding for EF Education First, is fourth at 48 seconds.

Tomorrow's stage is due to see the field travel a 163.6km route from Vitoria-Gasteiz to Arrigorriaga.