[14] The other previous winner, Michele Scarponi – who won the 2011 edition of the race after Alberto Contador's results were expunged[15] – also served as the leader of his team, leading the Lampre–Merida squad.

[20][21] The duo managed to extend their advantage over the main field to in excess of eight-and-a-half minutes just after the first intermediate sprint point at Sant Esteve de Palautordera.

[20] At this point, Omega Pharma–Quick-Step and the Movistar Team moved their riders to the front of the main field, in order to steadily bring back the lead gap.

[21] On the descent, Team Sky forced the pace through Bradley Wiggins,[22][23] and the acceleration caused a break in the field and allowed thirteen riders to escape off the front.

[20] They remained clear all the way to Calella, where Omega Pharma–Quick-Step's Gianni Meersman prevailed in a sprint finish, to take the first leader's jersey via time bonuses.

Meier was joined in the breakaway by Sojasun rider Christophe Laborie and Olivier Kaisen of the Lotto–Belisol team, with the trio going clear in the opening moments of the stage.

[31] Behind, Omega Pharma–Quick-Step took up the front with Andrew Fenn,[32] and set it up for Meersman,[27] who held off a late spurt from Daniele Ratto (Cannondale) to take back-to-back stage wins, extending his overall lead in the process.

The stage had started just above sea level in Vidreres, taking in two first-category climbs of the Alt de Sant Hilari and at the Túnel Collabós as part of the 180.1 km (111.9 mi) itinerary.

Around the halfway mark, the Movistar Team were reduced by two members, as both Eros Capecchi and the overall leader Alejandro Valverde had to abandon the race due to a crash,[46][47] leaving both riders sore but unable to continue.

[45] Towards the top of the ascent, Saxo–Tinkoff's Nicolas Roche put in a solo attack on his companions,[44] and built up a lead of around a minute as he hit the bottom of the final climb to Port Ainé.

Roche faded on the climb however, and was soon caught by a group of three riders, consisting of his cousin Dan Martin (Garmin–Sharp), Kišerlovski and the Movistar Team's Jesús Herrada.

Overall leader Dan Martin (Garmin–Sharp) gained a bonus second at the intermediate sprint in Alfarràs, to extend his lead over Team Katusha's Joaquim Rodríguez.

Cofidis rider Stéphane Poulhies held the lead of the sprint out of the final right-hand corner,[52] but he was passed before the line by Samuel Dumoulin (Ag2r–La Mondiale), and the stage winner François Parisien of the Argos–Shimano team.

Indeed, by Alfarràs, Garmin–Sharp were still in control of the peloton and led out race leader Dan Martin in order for him to extend his overall lead, by claiming the three bonus seconds on offer at the line, with team-mates Koldo Fernández and Ryder Hesjedal following him across.

Daniele Ratto (Cannondale) was first to launch the sprint, but he was overtaken by Omega Pharma–Quick-Step's Gianni Meersman, however both were beaten by a fast-finishing Simon Gerrans of Orica–GreenEDGE, to take the stage win by a bike length.

After starting in El Vendrell, the race moved towards the coast at Calafell before the run-in towards Barcelona, which included the third-category Alt de la Maladona ascent.

[63][64] Much like the previous day, the stage's first hour was completed at a frenetic pace – at nearly 50 km/h (31 mph)[65] – but did not deter a breakaway group forming and this was initiated at the first intermediate sprint point in the city of Vilanova i la Geltrú.

Caja Rural–Seguros RGA's Karol Domagalski led across the line, ahead of Saxo–Tinkoff rider Karsten Kroon and Michał Gołaś of the Omega Pharma–Quick-Step team.

[65] The breakaway mopped up the bonus seconds at the other intermediate sprint point at Castelldefels, meaning that Rodríguez would have to play his hand nearer Montjuïc, in order to potentially leapfrog Dan Martin (Garmin–Sharp) overall.

[66] A counter-attack followed from a group of four riders – David López of Team Sky, Vacansoleil–DCM's Thomas De Gendt, Tim Wellens (Lotto–Belisol) and Kroon's team-mate Chris Anker Sørensen – gaining distance off the front on the climb.

Sørensen was dropped by his three companions not long after, while Movistar Team rider Nairo Quintana tried to attack from the peloton, but was brought back due to his close nature to both Martin and Rodríguez in the general classification.

[66] The lead group swelled to five riders several kilometres later, as Michele Scarponi of the Lampre–Merida team – fifth in the general classification overnight – and RadioShack–Leopard's Robert Kišerlovski bridged across a 20-second gap to reach the leaders.