No changes in the classification after a wild chase and a chaotic finale.
Stage three had a profile that screamed successful breakaway, but the sprinters’ teams decided to keep the attackers on a tight leash in the Adelaide Hills. It was another hot day at the office for the riders, as the temperatures hit 30 degrees Celsius, but that didn’t stop three men from zipping clear as soon as they exited the long neutral zone and forming a breakaway just one kilometer into the stage.
Despite their advantage barely reaching two minutes, the escapees made the peloton work hard in order to bring them back. For that reason, things ended up being more hectic than usual, and a crash took place in the finale, causing a split in the bunch, just as they were reeling in the last breakaway rider with 500 meters to go. In the end, Sam Welsford (Ineos Grenadiers) took the victory from a reduced group that also included Soudal Quick-Step’s Andrea Raccagni.
The Italian remained attentive in the closing kilometers and stayed at all times in the first part of the peloton, and this helped him keep his spot in the top ten overall going into the most important stage of this edition, which will finish atop the iconic Willunga Hill. Filippo Zana is also well-placed there, giving our team two cards to play on the penultimate day of the race.
Photo credit: ©Con Chronis / Getty Images
