Team Dimension Data’s Ben O’Connor won the 138.3km third stage of the Tour of the Alps, which finished in Merano, Italy, today.
The Australian soloed to victory, beating FDJ’s Thibaut Pinot (France) and Bahrain-Merida’s Domenico Pozzovivo (Italy) into second and third respectively.
Ben O’Connor pictured winning stage two of the Tour of the Alps in Italy today. Photo: Pentaphoto/Tour of the Alps
O’Connor broke away from an 11-man bunch in the flat final 10 kilometres of the race to take the spoils.
“It’s just great to now be able to race with the best and to manage to pull that off is surreal,” he said.
“I’ve gradually built up the form pretty well. In Catalunya I was alright, then to come here and be just another step further is super, super pleasing. I just want to be the best rider I can be.”
Pinot took the race lead ahead of the fourth stage tomorrow.
View provisional results below.
Stage three
1. Ben O’Connor (Aus) Dimension Data
2. Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ +0:05
3. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Bahrain-Merida
4. George Bennett (NZl) LottoNL-Jumbo
5. Luis León Sanchez (Spa) Astana Pro Team
6. Chris Froome (GBr) Team Sky
7. Fabio Aru (Ita) UAE Team Emirates
8. Manuel Senni (Ita) Bardiani CSF
9. Alexandre Geniez (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
10. Michal Schlegel (Cze) CCC Sprandi Polkowice
General classification
1. Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ
2. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Bahrain-Merida +0.15
3. Miguel Angel Lopez (Col) Astana Pro Team
4. Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky +0.16
5. Fabio Aru (Ita) UAE Team Emirates +0.50
6. Ivan Ramiro Sosa Cuervo (Col) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec +1.03
7. George Bennett (NZL) LottoNL-Jumbo +1.21
8. Luis León Sánchez (Spa) Astana Pro Team +1.27
9. Ben O’Connor (Aus) Dimension Data +1.36
10. Giulio Ciccone (Ita) Bardiani CSF +1.45
