Please join us for live blogging of Stage three of the Giro d’Italia. Live coverage will begin at 19.35 AEST with comments being added to this post as the race progresses.
Stage two of the 2012 Giro d’Italia was a classic flat stage, with a three-man breakaway reeled in by an unforgiving peloton before a bunch sprint for the win.
Sprint juggernaut Mark Cavendish (Sky Pro Cycling) took stage honours and now leads in the points classification. Australian hopeful Matt Goss (Orica-GreenEDGE) finished second and Frenchman Geoffrey Soupe (FDJ-Big Mat) crossed the line third.
The Manx Missile has a lot to thank his teammates for. The Sky team was instrumental in the chase and catch of the break: Olivier Kaisen (Lotto Belisol), Alfredo Balloni (Farnese Vini-Selle Italia) and Miguel Angel Rubiano (Androni Giocattoli).
The three escaped off the front early in the stage and built an advantage of around eight and a half minutes over the main peloton. Their lead gradually diminished and the trio was caught with 40km left to race. Lars Bak (Lotto Belisol) then rolled the dice by attempting a solo breakaway, but was quickly brought back into the fray. The stage was set for a sprint finish, and viewers were treated to a frantic one.
Despite a mechanical mishap eight kilometres from the finish of stage two, Taylor Phinney (BMC Racing) retains his overall lead in the general classification.
Stage three is a largely flat 190km journey that starts and finishes in Horsens, Denmark. It is comprised of three circuits around the Danish city. The first two, 45km and 100km in length respectively, are completed once. Riders must then complete the third 14.6km circuit three times.
It should be another day for the sprinters, but a category four climb at Ejer Bavnehoj (after 103km) leaves something there for an opportunistic climber or member of a breakaway group.
The stage also features one intermediate sprint at around the 90km mark in Hovedgard. It is likely to be won by a breakaway, but even a seemingly inconsequential couple of points could make a huge difference to a contender in the battle for points jersey.
The sprinters are again the men to watch.
Cavendish says he wants six stage wins at this year’s Giro and could easily record number two in Horsens. Goss looked to be in strong form in Herning and will look to go one better on stage three.
Tommy L
Guest
Thanks so much for doing this Kit, read every word last night. A great way to keep up to date on the race without being able to watch it on sbs.
Bones506
Roar Guru
Great to see Gossy get up - Holding of Farrar is not easy. I will be covering teh last flat stage before they really hit the mountains so hopefuly Cav and Gossy give it a real shake before they pull the pin. Ferrari should have been thrown out - 200 swiss Francs and a 30 second penalty plus a few points is a joke.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Thanks for joining me for live updates of stage three of the Giro d'Italia in Horsens, Denmark. Keep an eye on The Roar for more cycling news! Live blogging will be back for stage 4 on Wednesday night as the peloton races through Italy (Verona) for the first time in this year's race.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Very strong chance Zee.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
The GC standings remain unchanged from the stage 1 time trial: 1. Taylor Phinney (BMC Racing), 2. Geraint Thomas (Sky Pro Cycling) [+9"], 3. Alex Rasmussen (Garmin-Barracuda) [+13"].
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Phinney is reportedly back on his feet and retains his overall lead. Good news for Taylor and cycling fans.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Stay tuned to The Roar in the coming days for more live blogging of the Giro d'Italia - there is a rest day tomorrow but it's business as usual come Wednesday night (stage 4).
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
The provisional results list Taylor Phinney as the maglia rosa, which means he finished the stage, but it remains unclear as to whether he will physically be able to continue.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Roberto Ferrari is likely to be relegated to last place for his role in the crash, but we shall wait and see.
Zee Ko
Roar Rookie
Any chance of Roberto Ferrari receiving a censure for that bit of careless riding?
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Indeed. Very sad to see.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
The riders get a well-deserved rest day tomorrow before stage 4 in two days time. Phinney appears to have injured his ankle and that could be that.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Taylor Phinney (pink jersey) appears to have been driven off in an ambulance following the huge crash on the finishing straight. That could mean the end of his Giro d'Italia.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Matt Goss has usurped Mark Cavendish as the new leader in the points classification.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
The stage results: 1. Matt Goss (Orica-GreenEDGE), 2. Juan Jose Haedo (Saxo Bank), 3. Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Barracuda), 4. Arnaud Demare (FDJ-Big Mat), 5. Mark Renshaw (Rabobank), 6. Thor Hushovd (BMC Racing), 7. Alexander Kristoff (Katusha), 8. Romain Feillu (Vacansoleil-DCM), 9. Roberto Ferrari (Androni Gioccatoli), 10. Fumiyuki Beppu (Orica-GreenEDGE).
Zee Ko
Roar Rookie
Not looking good for Phinney. Suspected broken ankle looks like. Such a pity.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
The crash appears to have been caused by Roberto Ferrari (Androni Giocattoli), who pulled outwards and into Mark Cavendish. Bodies flew everywhere and all Cavendish could do was roll up into the foetal position and hope for the best.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Oh goodness me what a dramatic finish!
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
There is an awful lot of highly visible road rash.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Cav has his bike on his shoulders as he walks towards the finish line. Phinney looks to be in terrible trouble as he sits on the ground in anguish.