Colombia’s Edwin Avila Vanegas won the 156.3km third stage of the Tour de Taiwan today.
Avila Vanegas beat Japan’s Yukiya Arashiro and Austria’s Jonathan Clarke into second and third respectively.
Clarke moves into the overall leader’s jersey ahead of the fourth stage tomorrow.
Edwin Avila Vanegas won the 156.3km third stage of the Tour de Taiwan today. Photo: Taiwan Today
Calvin Beneke was the first South African home, finishing the stage in 18th. Eddie van Heerden is the team’s highest-placed on the general classification, currently holding 25th position.
“Eddie was trying to set the pace to get rid of free riders playing mind games,” team coach Bonga Ngqobane said.
“Calvin and Eddie were mainly in the front [today], but it was very tough on the mountains.
“We lost four riders just before the descent. Calvin was dropped, but we managed to chase back well.”
According to Ngqobane, Jason Oosthuizen crashed out of the race.
“He [Oosthuizen] crashed on one of the steep down hills,” he said. “He returned from hospital and it is fortunately nothing serious.”
View more results below.
Stage three
1. Edwin Avila Vanegas (Colombia) 3:49:33
2. Yukiya Arashiro (Japan)
3. Jonathan Clarke (Austria)
4. Hideto Nakane (Japan)
5. Eder Frayre (Mexico)
6. Serghei Tvetcov (Romania)
7. Sebastian Schonberg (Austria)
8. Alex Turrin (Italy)
9. Gianni Marchand (Belgium)
10. Jason Lea (Australia)
Selected
18. Calvin Beneke (South Africa)
23. Eddie van Heerden (South Africa)
65. Mornay van Heerden (South Africa)
76. Aidan van Niekerk (South Africa)
96. Byron Munton (South Africa)
General classification
1. Jonathan Clarke (Austria) 8:32:06
2. Yukiya Arashiro (Japan) 8:32:08
3. Jimmy Janssens (Belgium) 8:32:17
4. Edwin Avila Vanegas (Colombia) 8:32:35
5. Markus Freiberger (Austria) 8:32:41
6. Eder Frayre (Mexico) 8:32:45
7. Hideto Nakane (Japan) 8:32:45
8. Sebastian Schonberg (Austria) 8:32:45
9. Jason Lea (Australia) 8:32:45
10. Alex Turrin (Italy) 8:32:45
Selected
25. Eddie van Heerden (South Africa)
40. Calvin Beneke (South Africa)
65. Aidan van Niekerk (South Africa)
66. Mornay van Heerden (South Africa)
101. Byron Munton (South Africa)
