The Australian Sam Welsford (Bora Hansgrohe) again showed himself to be tough in the sprint, taking victory in the third stage of the Tour Down Under contested between Tea Tree Gully and Campbelltown, 145.3 km long, while Mexican Isaac del Toro (UAE) retained the orange leader’s jersey.
Good moment of form for Welsford, a rider from track cycling born 27 years ago in Subiaco who started the season launched. He had already won the first stage in the final at Tanunda and at Campbelltown he once again put his winning signature.
The Aussie cyclist won the duel between the sprinters ahead of the Italian Elia Viviani (Ineos Grenadiers) and the British Dan McLay (Arkéa-B&B Hotels. The best Spaniard was the Asturian Iván García Cortina (Movistar) .
The Mexican Isaac del Toro, winner the previous day, remained at the front of the general classificationfollowed by New Zealander Corbin Strong (Israel-Premier Tech) at 2 seconds and Frenchman Axel Mariault (Cofidis) at 5. García Cortina was nineteenth at 11.
The stars of the stage are the Australian runners, uneasy at the start. From the start Luke Burns attacked, joined by his “Aussie” teammate Tristan Saunders, the South African Stefan de Bodt (EF Education – EasyPost) and the Frenchman Axel Mariault (Cofidis).
The quartet had the maximum advantage of three minutes, but the adventure expired 65 kilometers from the finish line, despite the fact that Sanders lasted another thirty kilometers.
In a race controlled by the peloton, the fall occurred due to the usual nervousness in the final part of the stage. Australian Luke Plapp (Jayco-AlUla) was left sprawled on the ground as the sprint was launched.
Sam Welsford attacked from distance, well protected by his team, who avoided late attacks from Viviani and McLay. Mexican Del Toro arrived with the leader’s jersey intact.
The fourth stage takes place this Friday between Murray Bridge and Port Elliot with a route of 136.2 kilometres, a good day for another sprint.
Source: La Verdad
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