Steep climbs couldn’t slow down the peloton in Tuesday’s third stage at the Mallorca Challenge.

Despite tackling some of the steepest roads in Mallorca’s dazzling Tramuntana range, the peloton came through for another mass sprint in the 168.4km stage from Pollença to Alcúdia.

José Rojas profited from the hard work of his Caisse d’Epargne teammates to control the dynamic finale and sprinted his way to victory. Philippe Gilberto (FDJeux), winner of the opening stage, reclaimed the leader’s jersey after Graeme Brown (Rabobank) couldn’t clear the day’s hard climbs with the front group.

“I really wanted to win today. It was great that my team helped me so much. It was hard up the climb today, but the team worked to keep it together for the sprint,” Rojas said. “Gilbert is a great rider, the first goal was to win a stage, now we’ll go little by little to see what happens these next days in the fight for the overall.”

Despite efforts to shake the main pack, a relatively large group barreled off the Coll de Puig Major to roar into the Pollença harbor and an attack-riddled 15km flat but windy run into Alcúdia.

A four-man group was checked and some late-stage attacks were also neutralized to set up the third sprint in three days in the kick off of the Spanish racing calendar.

Gilbert came through third in the stage, just behind Italian champion Giovanni Visconti (QuickStep), to move into the overall lead.

The 13th Mallorca Challenge continues Wednesday with the 162.4km fourth stage in a hilly route starting and finishing in Inca. The route tackles four Cat. 2 climbs, including two passages over the Coll de Sa Batalla followed by the “easy” way up Coll de Puig Major before tackling Can Costa with about 35km to go.