It might be a relatively hilly Stage 3 of the Tour Down Under as the peloton takes the 144-kilometre trek from Glenelg to Victor Harbour, but a chance in the general classification is unlikely on a day for the strong men. Join The Roar for live coverage from 12:20pm (AEDT).
Yesterday, Richie Porte proved beyond all reasonable doubt that he is the most in-form rider in the race and is the red-hot favourite to take out the top spot in South Australia.
Defending champion Simon Gerrans was nowhere to be seen on the Stage 2 run into Paracombe, although teammate Esteban Chavez does look in good touch.
He rode to the line in third behind Movistar’s best hope in Gorka Izaguirre, while Australian Jay McCarthy, who has been active at the sprints, also proved his worth finishing fourth and keeping hopes of the Ochre jersey well alive.
Today’s stage sets out from the beachfront community of Glenelg, and trecks all the way along the coast for the 144-kilometre journey to Victor Harbour, although they do go slightly inland towards the end.
It’s actually quite a hilly day, although nothing like yesterday. What it will be is a burner on the legs and it’ll ensure many of the sprinters are knocked out by the time four laps of the up and down course around Victor Harbour are finished.
From Glenelg it’s almost straight uphill, then undulating through Aldinga all the way to the first obstacle of the day at Sellicks Hill, where the riders will take on a Category 2 climb.
From there, intermediate sprints come just a few kilometres after at Myponga and about halfway through the stage in the Inman Valley before the riders shape up for the final near-13-kilometre circuit.
The circuit itself has a few lumps and bumps and is barely ever flat, but looks can be deceiving and the stage profile makes things look a lot harder than they are.
The sprinters, particularly Caleb Ewan, might have a tough time trying to hang on, especially after the tough kilometres in their legs early in the stage, while others – Peter Sagan springs to mind – should thrive on the course.
Prediction
There is no question Sagan is the favourite, but earlier in the day expect to see BMC, Movistar and Sky working, particularly if the wind picks up and there is a chance of splitting the peloton up.
From there, it could be a two-way race at the finish between Sagan and Gerrans, although watch out for Ben Swift and my bolter for the day, Jay McCarthy.
No one should beat Sagan here though.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of Stage 3 at the Tour Down Under from 12:20pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add your own comments in the section below.
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Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me on The Roar this afternoon for our live coverage of the 2017 Tour Down Under as Caleb Ewan took out another stage. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. I'll be back Sunday for Stage 6, but before then you can join Connor Bennett for both Stage 4 and 5 over the next couple of days. Before then, I'll be live with the Australian Open for Jordan Thompson vs Dominic Thiem from 8:30pm (AEDT) tonight. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
General Classification 1. Richie Porte (BMC) @ 10:34:59 2. Gorka Izaguirre (Movistar) + 0:20 3. Esteban Chavez (Orica-Scott) + 0:22 4. Jay McCarthy (Bora) + 0:24 5. Nathan Haas (Dimension Data) + 0:27 6. Rohan Dennis (BMC) + 0:29 7. Nathan Earle (UniSA) + 0:29 8. Diego Ulissi (UAE) + 0:29 9. Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana) + 0:29 10. Rafael Valls (Lotto-Soudal) + 0:29
Scott Pryde
Expert
Top10 1. Caleb Ewan (Orica-Scott) @ 3:24:45 2. Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) + 0:00 3. Niccolo Bonifazio (Bahrain-Merida) + 0:00 4. Danny Van Poppel (Sky) + 0:00 5. Edward Theuns (Trek) + 0:00 6. Nikias Arndt (Sunweb) + 0:00 7. Sean De Bie (Lotto Soudal) + 0:00 8. Lorenzo Manzin (FDJ) + 0:00 9. Ruben Guerreiro (Trek-Segafredo) + 0:00 10. Baptiste Planckaert (Katusha-Alpecin) + 0:00
Scott Pryde
Expert
Race Results A fast and furious Stage 3 of the 2017 Tour Down Under has seen Caleb Ewan (Orica-Scott) take his second victory, and a third for Australian's ahead of Peter Sagan. The breakaway of the day got away very early and held around four minutes for much of the day as the riders made the trek to a circuit in Victor Harbour that was completed four times. The riders who got away were - Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal), Clement Chevrier (Ag2R La Mondiale), Jeremy Maison (FDJ), Vegard Laengen (UAE Abu Dhabi) De Gendt would take the King of the Mountains points on the stage, tying with Richie Porte for that jersey before the gap began to tumble on the circuit. Laengen put in a last ditch attempt to get away but he was eventually caught as the last man to survive with about 10 kilometres remaining on the day. In the final sprint, Caleb Ewan came from absolutely nowhere to take victory, ahead of Peter Sagan who can't outsprint the Australian for the life of him.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Full results to come.
bill
Roar Rookie
Nice
Scott Pryde
Expert
No time changes on GC, but Gorka Izaguirre has had a big crash in the final couple of kilometres and looks in some pain. He might have been the one to go down with Wyss and Bakelants.
Scott Pryde
Expert
That's just an amazing sprint from Ewan. He had no right to win that getting out from Bennet's wheel, in and out of the pedals and then over the line in first. What a victory. Sagan came over for second, Niccolo Bonifazio in third and Van Poppel with a late run for fourth. Good luck beating Caleb Ewan at the moment! 2 from 2 sprint stages for him, and 3 from 3 for Australia.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Sam Bennett has got himself into a good position here and there is a massive attack on the far side of the road from Sam Bennett! Peter Sagan has come from nowhere but where the hell did Caleb Ewan come from?? CALEB EWAN! He pops out from the middle after rounding the final corner back in about 7th position and went for it! Came out of the wheel of an attacking Bennett and claims his second stage win of the tour. Caleb Ewan wins Stage 3 of the 2017 Tour Down Under
Scott Pryde
Expert
Great acceleration from Sky and both Ewan and Sagan have dropped back. Ewan has lost his leadout man in fact here! Sunweb into a good position for Arndt as well. Round the right left now and Sky open up.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Here come Team Sky! Suddenly they have 4 riders for Van Poppell on the front and they fly around the roundabout in the lead. Thomas swings off.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Looks like Trek are now starting to make their move and there are not many riders left in contention now still about 2km from the line. Caleb Ewan on Kluge's wheel and Sagan on the wheel of Ewan.
Scott Pryde
Expert
None of the overall or sprinters are down. Bahrain in complete control for Visconti as we come up to the finish line now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Crash! Massive crash! Ag2r and a BMC rider on the deck. Movistar as well. Jan Bakelants is one of them, along with Wyss. On we go though.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Sagan well back here. Way too far about - about 30 or so riders and he will get squeezed well and truly out unless he can get to the front before the corner coming up. Looks like Ewan is too far back as well.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Both the Bahrain and UAE teams looking good - Bahrain driving the pack now in fact trying to set up for Visconti.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Cannondale have been squeezed out here with Bora on the front, Renshaw on the back of their train. Time to get organised now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Dimension up the middle of the road here and they hold the best positioning, but up the right hand side of the road come Cannondale Drapac now for Slagter possibly. Sagan looking good as well with teammates about 20 or so riders back.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Dimension Data to the front now! Remember, they have both Farrar and Renshaw in the team now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Here is the catch then! Laengen is back in the pack as Bora sweep past him still trying to set it up for Sagan and Bennett. Peloton has seriously reduced in size and we are into the final set up for the line.