The Canadian defeated Rafał Majka (Bora-hansgrohe) in a two-way finish and became the new leader of the general classification. The podium was completed by Wilco Kelderman (Team Sunweb), who brought the second group with a start of 20 seconds.
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The third stage led the cyclists along the roads of the Grosseto province. The 217-kilometer section was undulating, and the Poggio Murella wall rose on a 75-kilometer loop near the town of Saturnia (1.6 km; 10.7%, max. 21%). For the first time, the cyclists covered the climb after 135 kilometers, and then after 208 kilometers, 8.5 kilometers before the finish line.
The departure of the day was formed by: Hermann Pernsteiner (Bahrain-McLaren), Alessandro Tonelli (Bardiani-CSF-Faizane), Nathan van Hooydonck (CCC Team), Dimitri Claeys (Cofidis), Benjamin Thomas (Groupama-FDJ), Matthew Holmes (Lotto Soudal) and Pascal Eenkhoorn (Jumbo-Visma). After a while, Marco Frapporti (Vini Zab-KTM) joined the six. The escapees moved briskly and gained almost 8 minutes advantage over the large group, but the difference quickly narrowed.
On the first run through Poggio Murella, Thomas broke away and went “solo”. In the peloton, the cyclists of Ineos Grenadiers set a slow pace, and only the sprint cyclists were selected, including the leader of the race Pascal Ackermann (Bora-hansgrohe) and Fernando Gaviria (UAE-Team Emirates). After crossing the wall, the group clearly slowed down and at some point the French gained over 5 minutes of advantage. The impasse was interrupted by EF Pro Cycling riders.
Thomas gave up on further, lonely driving and returned to the rest of the escapees. 20 kilometers before the finishing line, at the exit of the unmarked Manciano climb (2.1 km; 5.6%), the experienced Frapporti broke off the lead. The Italian started Muro del Pirata alone, but was quickly countered by the British Holmes, the last of the fugitives.
Rafał Majka attacked, but lost a second
Michael Woods accelerated on the wall and crossed the line of the mountain premium alone. At the beginning of the congress, Rafał Majka made an effective attempt to jump to the Canadian. The two cooperated in concert and drove the last kilometer with an advantage of 20 seconds.
The cyclist of EF Pro Cycling stood behind the Pole’s back and in the last 200 meters he showed more dynamics, but also our competitor showed little glare. The judges have counted Majka a second loss. More about cycling at rowery.org
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