2019 Tour Down Under Stage 3 Results & Recap
Stage 3 of the 2019 Tour Down Under is in the books. The final results and standings are below, followed by our recap of how the race unfolded.
Race Recap
Sagan rules stage 3
Peter Sagan charged to his first win of the 2019 season, just as he did last year at the Tour Down Under in Uraidla. The three-time world champion was closely followed by Luis Leon Sanchez, who challenged Sagan for victory, but came up short by about a bike length after the uphill sprint.
Defending champion Daryl Impey finished in third place after 146.2 kilometres of racing in the Adelaide Hills.
Patrick Bevin remains in the ochre jersey by one second after Sagan picked up ten bonus seconds because of his win.
The crowds were out in force today, despite the heat, to see 133 riders tackle what could be the hardest stage of this year’s Tour Down Under. Because there were two intermediate sprints close to the start, the pace was high immediately.
Nic Dlamini (Dimension Data), Michael Potter (UniSA-Australia), Manuele Boaro (Astana), James Whelan (EF-Education First), Nico Denz (AG2R La Mondiale) and LĂ©o Vincent (Groupama-FDJ) made up the break, including the notable name of Elia Viviani, who won the opening stage. \nViviani, on the hunt for bonus seconds available during the intermediate sprints, was successful in his quest, picking up max points and bonus seconds for both intermediate sprints.
The peloton, led by CCC Team, kept the seven riders at bay at around three minutes, and soon after, Viviani fell back unto the peloton after the bonifications were done and dusted.
On the penultimate lap, Alberto Bettiol (EF-Education First) joined his teammate, Whelan, up ahead with the gap closing in fast. The two pulled out a minute before Whelan couldn’t take much more of the high pace and was dropped.
Bettiol went forward alone but was eventually brought back as the decimated peloton, mostly Team Sky and Michelton Scott, organized for the final climb. The remaining riders jostled for position and Sagan timed his sprint perfectly to come behind Impey’s wheel for the win. \n
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