Remi Cavagna grabbed the biggest victory of his career when he soloed 75km to victory on stage three of the Tour of California that finished in Morgan Hill today.
The 23-year-old Frenchman (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) finished the 208km ride from Stockton 7:11 ahead of Ben King (Dimension Data) and Simon Geschke (CCC), who had slipped away from the leaders in the closing few kilometres.
Yesterday’s winner Kasper Asgreen won the bunch sprint for fourth to keep the green points jersey.
Cavagna crested the last climb two minutes ahead of Alex Hoehn (USA) and 7:35 in front of the peloton and was faced with a 48km ride to win the day.
Hoehn, 21, was overhauled in the run-in to the finish, but his effort was good enough to give him the lead in the king of the mountains competition.
Tejay Van Garderen, who took the overall lead after finishing second on yesterday’s punishing stage, finished safely among the leaders to stay in yellow.
Stage three results:
1. Remi Cavagna (DQT) 5:44:22
2. Ben King (TDD) 7:11
3. Simon Geschke (CCC)
4. Kasper Asgreen (DQT) 7:47
5. Jasper Philipsen (UAD)
*Selected
52. Louis Meintjes (TDD)
76. Jay Thomson (TDD) 23:30
102. Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (TDD)
General classification after stage three:
1. Tejay van Garderen (EF1) 15:23:28
2. Gianni Moscon (INS) 0:00:06
3. Kasper Asgreen (DQT) 0:00:07
4. Tadej Pogacar (UAD) 0:00:16
5. Maximilian Schachmann (BOH) 0:00:22
*Selected
22. Louis Meintjes (TDD) 00:48
84. Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (TDD) 33:35
117. Jay Thomson (TDD) 42:30
