Madrid - Italy's Oscar Gatto won the third stage of the Tour of Andalusia in a sprint finish on Friday as British Sky rider Ben Swift took the overall lead.
Tinkoff rider Gatto beat Swift and Dutchman Raymond Kreder to the line at the end of the 157.9km ride from Monachil to Padul.
Swift seized the lead in the general classification from France's Nacer Bouhanni, who was left adrift on the second climb of the Alto del Valle, 19km from the finish, and was unable to recover.
Bouhanni had taken the red jersey after winning Thursday's second stage.
Saturday's penultimate fourth stage is a 21km individual time-trial in Alhaurin de la Torre.
Results from the third stage of the Tour of Andalusia over 157.9km from Monachil to Padul on Friday:
Stage
1. Oscar Gatto (ITA/TIN) 3hr 51min 20sec, 2. Ben Swift (GBR/SKY) same time, 3. Raymond Kreder (NED/ROP) s.t., 4. Tim Wellens (BEL/LOT) s.t., 5. Fabio Felline (ITA/TRE) s.t.
Selected others
11. Alejandro Valverde (ESP/Movistar) s.t., 39. Teejay van Garderen (USA/BMC) s.t.
Overall standings
1. Ben Swift (GBR/SKY) 12hr 26min 52sec, 2. Raymond Kreder (NED/ROP) s.t., 3. Reto Hollenstein (SUI/IAM) s.t., 4. Philippe Gilbert (BEL/BMC) s.t., 5. Fabio Felline (ITA/TRE) s.t.
Selected others
8. Alejandro Valverde (ESP/MOV) s.t., 24. Teejay van Garderen (USA/BMC) s.t.