Tour of the Basque Country 2018 Stage 3: Jay McCarthy sprints to victory, Alaphilippe still leader
The 3rd stage is yet another hilly race through the Basque Country, although the fast men do have a chance of success today. Jay McCarthy grabs the opportunity and outsprints Aleksandr Riabushenko. Julian Alaphilippe retains in the leader's jersey. (Slideshow route/profile)
Results 3rd stage Tour of the Basque Country
1. Jay McCarthy (aus)
2. Aleksandr Riabushenko (rus) s.t.
3. Michal Kwiatkowski (pol) s.t.
4. Michael Albasini (swi) s.t.
5. Enrique Sanz (spa) s.t.
6. Julian Alaphilippe (fra) s.t.
7. Michael Matthews (aus) s.t.
8. Jesús Equerra (spa) s.t.
9. Pello Bilbao (spa) s.t.
10. Encrico Battaglin (ita) s.t.
GC after the 3rd stage
1. Julian Alaphilippe (fra)
2. Primoz Roglic (slo) + 0.08
3. Gorka Izagirre (spa) + 0.39
4. Mikel Landa (spa) + 0.43
5. Pello Bilbao (spa) + 0.54
5. Pello Bilbao (spa) + 0.54
6. Rudy Molard (fra) + 0.58
7. Emanuel Buchmann (ger) s.t.
8. Romain Bardet (fra) s.t.
9. Enric Mas (spa) s.t.
10. Patrick Konrad (aut) s.t.
11. Bauke Mollema (nld) s.t.
12. Nairo Quintana (col) s.t.
13. Rigoberto Uran (col) s.t.
Race report
At km 4 Thomas De Gendt takes off and he is accompanied by Christopher Juul-Jensen. Sivakov, Irisarri, Bagües, King, Canty and Smit are desperately trying to hook on.
De Gendt is pushing so hard that he drops Juul-Jensen on the Errigoiti and the Flemish attacker is the first rider to reach the crest. On descent the duo rejoins before De Gendt once again pockets most KOM points at the Aretxabalgane. After this top the chasers and leaders finally come together. By then, the pack is more than 6 minutes in arrears.
At La Barrerilla De Gendt once again takes most KOM points, which makes him the new KOM leader.
When the front group is down to De Gendt and Juul-Jensen, De la Cruz and Kwiatkowski go after them to join the front of the race with 16 kms to go. The initiator of the original break, De Gendt, is the first to drop and Kwiat stops his efforts a little later. Dylan Teuns tries to bridge across, but doesn’t get there.
With 3 kms to go the break is caught and in the ensuing sprint Jay MCCarthy outperforms 22-year old Aleksandr Riabushenko, while Michal Kwiatkowski comes in third.
Tomorrow will be an important GC-day with the (pre)decisive ITT on the flat.
Read also: route 3rd stage 2018 Tour of the Basque Country.
Tour of the Basque Country 2018 stage 3: Route maps, height profiles, and more
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