Tour Down Under: Simon Gerrans takes control on stage three
Stage victory and overall race lead for Simon Gerrans as the overall contenders fight for position on the Tour Down Under's first significant climb - Team Sky backs Sergio Henao as Geraint Thomas misses final selection - Photos by Graham Watson

Simon Gerrans has turned his fortunes around winning the third stage of the Tour Down Under to take the leader’s jersey at the mid-point of the race.
Gerrans (Orica-GreenEdge) won a reduced group sprint from defending champion Rohan Dennis (BMC) and Michael Woods (Cannondale) on what was a decisive day for the general classification with Team Sky now set to adjust its focus.
Gerrans suffered minor skin abrasions in a late crash that prevented him from sprinting for line honours yesterday, though showed no sign of weakness today as the front group hit speeds in excess of 100km/h in the descent to the finish line.
“To have a mishap so close to the finish when I was feeling so good was bitterly disappointing for myself and the entire team, so to come away 24 hours later with the win and now the lead I think everyone will be really happy tonight,” the 35-year-old said.
>>> Tour Down Under 2016: Latest news, reports, previews
The Corkscrew climb within the final 10km of the 139km run from Glenelg to Campbelltown as anticipated separated the best ascenders from the rest. Teams fought for position leading into the base of the climb with Tinkoff and Sky sitting at the front of the peloton.
An elite group including Gerrans, Woods, Dennis and BMC team-mate Richie Porte, overnight race leader Jay McCarthy (Tinkoff), Sky’s Sergio Henao, and others, formed on the climb where the attacks started.
Porte came to front with Gerrans on his wheel before Henao then attacked with Woods but could not stay away.
Geraint Thomas did not make the selection and Sky will now put its weight behind the Colombian, who sits fifth overall and 15 seconds in arrears of Gerrans with Willunga yet to come.
“He didn’t have quite the legs he was hoping for,” Sky sports director Kurt Arvesen said of Thomas.
“They were both leaders, protected into today, and we wanted to see how they ran, even Pete [Kennaugh] had a free role to see where he was.
“Now we know Sergio is the strongest and we’re looking out for Willunga now.”
Belgian Laurens de Vreese (Astana) attacked from the start of the race and marked a maximum time advantage of around four minutes, as Tinkoff controlled the pace of the peloton, before being inevitably caught with about 20km remaining.
>>> Tour Down Under: Jay McCarthy wins stage two and takes overall lead
Tyler Farrar (Dimension Data) and Marcus Burghardt (BMC) were among a small group that came down in high-speed crash on a descent soon after. Both walked gingerly around the team buses after the race but did not appear to be seriously injured.
Sprinters and opportunists will have another shot at victory tomorrow with stage four from Norwood to Victor Harbor.
>>> Tour Down Under 2016: Stage by stage
Results
Tour Down Under 2016: Stage three, Glenelg to Campbelltown, 139km
1. Simon Gerrans (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge in 3-37-34
2. Rohan Dennis (Aus) BMC Racing
3. Michael Woods (Can) Cannondale
4. Jay McCarthy (Aus) Tinkoff
5. Steve Morabito (Sui) FDJ
6. Rafael Valls Ferri (Esp) Lotto-Soudal
7. Sergio Henao (Col) Team Sky
8. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Ag2r La Mondiale
9. Richie Porte (Aus) BMC Racing
10. Ruben Fernandez (Spa) Movistar all same time
Other
17. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky at 22 secs
Overall classification after stage three
1. Simon Gerrans (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge
2. Jay McCarthy (Aus) Tinkoff at 3 secs
3. Rohan Dennis (Aus) BMC Racing at 5 secs
4. Michael Woods (Can) Cannondale at 11 secs
5. Sergio Henao (Col) Team Sky at 15 secs
6 .Rafael Valls (Spa) Lotto Soudal
7. Ruben Fernandez (Spa) Movistar
8. Steve Morabito (Sui) FDJ
9. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Ag2r La Mondiale
10. Richie Porte (Aus) BMC Racing at same time
Other
32. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky at 37 secs
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Sophie Smith is an Australian journalist, television reporter and presenter, who has provided coverage for Cycling Weekly from races across the world. She has covered eight Tours de France, as well as reporting for national and international newspapers as well as other magazines.
Follow Sophie Smith on Twitter and Instagram:
Instagram: sophiesmith86
Twitter: @SophieSmith86
-
-
No Mark Cavendish or Julian Alaphilippe at Tour de France for Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl
Fabio Jakobsen selected as team's sprinter for the race which begins on Friday in Copenhagen
By Adam Becket • Published
-
American Joe Dombrowski to (finally) make his Tour de France debut after a decade on the WorldTour
After a decade in the WorldTour peloton, American Joe Dombrowski is making his Tour de France debut this week
By Marshall Opel • Published
-
Team BikeExchange-Jayco out of Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana after positive covid results
Australian team withdraw from race ahead of stage three
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Extinction Rebellion planning to disrupt Santos Festival of Cycling
Activists will blockade routes on the race in protest against the title sponsor of the Adelaide-based event
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Team BikeExchange-Jayco release new kit, will ride Giant and Liv bikes
Australian WorldTour team goes blue for the men and aubergine for the women in Alé designed strips
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Postponed Tour Down Under and Cadel Evans races may take place ahead of September Worlds
The races, if the rumour is true, will be taking place before the UCI World Championships in Wollongong, Australia
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
Team BikeExchange Jayco focussing on widespread wins with confirmation of 2022 roster
The Australian team are optimistic they can achieve more success next season with their 28-man squad
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
BikeExchange interested in Tom Dumoulin for 2023 'if he wants to carry on with GC ambitions'
Dumoulin will be free at the end of 2022, when his contract with Jumbo-Visma runs out
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Mitchelton-Scott release full list of Zwift races with pros, including Simon Yates and Amanda Spratt
Mitchelton-Scott sets up a month of events on Zwift where anyone can ride in special events with some of the biggest names in the team
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
Tour Down Under TV guide 2020
Here's how and where to watch live video of the Tour Down Under
By Cycling Weekly • Published