Sam Welsford wins 3rd stage of Tour Down Under, Del Toro Romero retains overall lead
ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) — Australia’s Sam Welsford followed up his win in the first stage by winning the third stage of the Tour Down Under cycling race Thursday while Isaac del Toro Romero of Mexico retained the overall lead with three stages remaining.
The 145-kilometer (90-mile) stage from Tea Tree Gully to Campbelltown was set up for the sprinters and Welsford prevailed in a bunch sprint, with perfect support and lead-out work by his Bora Hansgrohe teammates.
The stage undulated through the Adelaide Hills with climbs at Tea Tree Gully and at the Whispering Wall. It then concluded with a sometimes sharp descent down the Gorge Road to a long, straight finish in Campbelltown.
Bora Hansgrohe moved into a strong position at the front of the peloton near the end of the descent. Ryan Mullen provided the early lead-out, then peeled away for Danny van Poppel to again guide Welsford into a winning position.
“Another (stage win), this is super crazy,” Welsford said. “To get one let alone two is super special.
“These guys (in Bora Hansgrohe) are really special. Full commitment down the gorge and the whole day GC guys were pushing for me. It was an incredible ride and I’m riding a wave right now.”
Former stage winner Elia Viviani of Italy, riding for British team Ineos Grenadiers, finished strongly for second and Britain's Daniel McLay was third for Arkea-B&B Hotels for France.
Del Toro held a two-second lead on general classification after winning the second stage Wednesday and he retained that margin over Corbin Strong of New Zealand while Axel Mariault of France moved up to third.
Biniam Girmay of Eritrea was pushed back in a crowded finish and is now seventh overall while Australian sprinter Caleb Ewan is 10th.
The first climb on Wednesday came soon after the start and Australian Luke Burns made an early breakaway and picked up maximum points to extend his lead as King of the Mountain.
He was supported by his teammate Tristan Saunders and when Burns dropped back into the peloton Saunders, Mariault and Stefan de Bon stayed away in front until they were drawn back in less than 40 kilometers from the finish.
Riders passed Lyndoch, Mt. Pleasant and Cuddly Creek and the stage peaked around 300 meters above sea level. There followed the long descent towards the finish.
A crash in the middle of peloton which took out Australian national champion Luke Plapp hampered some riders, then teams vied for control before the sprint finish.
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