Team Sky's Chris Lawless took his first professional win on Saturday at the Settimana Coppi e Bartali, sprinting ahead of Paolo Toto (Sangemini-MG.Kvis) and Lorenzo Rota (Bardiani-CSF) from a reduced field.
The 171km course looked ideal for the 22-year-old to try his luck at giving Sky their second victory of the race, having taken victory on the stage 1b team time trial, with a pan flat circuit to Crevalcore in store for the riders.
A split in the field towards the finish of the race saw a reduced bunch move ahead, and Lawless was able to despatch the other fast men in that group to bring home the victory.
His team-mate Diego Rosa maintains the overall lead of the race with a final time trial on Sunday, having finished second to Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) on the uphill finish of stage two. Italian Rosa and Mollema were able to finish safely in the front group with Rosa maintaining the overall lead by seven seconds.
Earlier in the stage a seven man breakaway group, containing Remy Di Gregorio (Delko Marseille), Michal Paluta (CCC), Dimitri Peyskens (WB Aqua Protect), Peter Williams (One Pro Cycling), Christofer Jurado (Trevigiani), Marco Coledan and Jacopo Mosca (Wilier Triestina - Selle Italia), got up the road and took a maximum advantage of 2-30.
Team Sky did much of the pace making to keep the breakers in touch, reeling them in with around 35km to go before the main field split.
The 2018 Settimana Coppi e Bartali will conclude on Sunday with a short and flat 12.5km time trial from Fiorano Modenese to Montegibbio.
Result
Settimana Coppi e Bartali 2018, stage three: Crevalcore - Crevalcore (171k)
1 Christopher Lawless (GBr) Team Sky, in 3-47-53
2 Paolo Toto (Ita) Sangemini-MG.Kvis
3 Lorenzo Rota (Ita) Bardiani CSF
4 Emils Liepins (Lat) One Pro Cycling
5 Richard Carapaz (Ecu) Movistar Team
6 Mauro Finetto (Ita) Delko Marseille Provence KTM
7 Fabio Felline (Ita) Trek-Segafredo
8 Alex Turrin (Ita) Wilier Triestina-Selle Italia
9 Nicola Bagioli (Ita) Nippo-Vini Fantini-Europa Ovini
10 Diego Rosa (Ita) Team Sky, all same time
General classification after stage three
1 Diego Rosa (Ita) Team Sky, in 9-52-46
2 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo, at 7s
3. Richard Carapaz (Ecu) Movistar, at 38s
Richard is digital editor of Cycling Weekly. Joining the team in 2013, Richard became editor of the website in 2014 and coordinates site content and strategy, leading the news team in coverage of the world's biggest races and working with the tech editor to deliver comprehensive buying guides, reviews, and the latest product news.
An occasional racer, Richard spends most of his time preparing for long-distance touring rides these days, or getting out to the Surrey Hills on the weekend on his Specialized Tarmac SL6 (with an obligatory pub stop of course).
-
'My head was filled with doubts and insecurities but I'm ready to win sprints again': says Elia Viviani as he re-joins Ineos in 2022The former Italian champion and Olympic gold medallist is confident he can get back to the top of sprinting
-
'They need to stick to black kit, it hides my love handles better': Public reacts to Ineos Grenadiers' new 2022 kit
The British squad have revealed their new look made by Bioracer
-
Ineos reveal new kit for 2022 season
Red is back for the British team's latest strip
-
More than just a time trial supremo: 'Filippo Ganna can also be remembered for winning Roubaix, San Remo and maybe a Grand Tour'
Ineos Grenadiers' 25-year-old Italian powerhouse has ambitions on winning more than just time trials
-
Egan Bernal aiming at Tour de France victory in 2022
The former winner abandoned last time he raced the Grande Boucle in 2020
-
Ineos Grenadiers announce signing of German under 23 national road race champion
Kim Heiduk has signed for Ineos Grenadiers for two years
-
Roger Hammond joins Ineos Grenadiers as lead sport director from Bahrain Victorious
The British WorldTour team also bolster their coaching staff with the addition of Ben Williams
-
Sir Dave Brailsford responds to rumours that Egan Bernal wants to leave Ineos Grenadiers
Amidst speculation that Bernal was not getting on with his team-mates and could depart, the Ineos boss has shared his thoughts
