Geraint Thomas powers to victory as Team Sky take 1-2 in Tour of the Alps stage three
Landa takes second on the third stage as Thomas moves into overall lead
![Geraint Thomas winning the stage three of the Tour of the Alps](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dmehLenDrcidDMWJceLJzc-415-80.jpg)
Geraint Thomas leads the Team Sky victory at stage three of the Tour of the Alps
Geraint Thomas and Mikel Landa of Team Sky showed what other Giro d'Italia contenders will be up against with a strong 1-2 on stage three of Tour of the Alps.
The Welsh rider stormed to victory after an impressive ride from Team Sky catapulted the Brit into the overall lead. Race leader Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) struggled to keep up with Thomas after becoming isolated from his FDJ teammates.
The third stage of the race was looking to be a fairly mundane state of affairs with Italian rider, Davide Orrico (Sangemini - MG.Kvis), setting the agenda with a solo break that was only caught at the base of the final climb.
As the race came towards the last climb of the day, a 9km uncategorised climb from Chiusa up to the finish in Klausen, Team Sky ramped up the pace with super domestique Philip Deignan taking the lead.
>>> Geraint Thomas: 'I hope I've got all my bad luck out of the way before the Giro d'Italia'
The British team looked in control juxtaposed with Thibaut Pinot who, bereft of teammates, stood alone in his fuchsia pink leaders jersey.
With five kilometres to go Hugh Carthy (Cannondale-Drapac) made a break from the peloton, forcing the likes of Thomas, Landa and Pinot to follow.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
When that attack was brought back, Landa was the next to go, followed by Dario Cataldo (Astana) and Domenico Pozzovivo (Ag2r La Mondiale).
In the main group Thomas waited patiently, staying with overall race leader Pinot. Up the road, Pozzovivo and Landa battled it out, dropping Cataldo in the process. With 3.5km to go the pair had built a lead of 20 seconds and looked to be in control.
At the 2km mark the two leader held an 18 second lead and look set to contest the stage win before Thomas attacked from the chasing group.
The Welsh rider bridged the gap with just 500m to go, leaving Pinot in the main group behind. With two Team Sky riders outnumbering the solitary Ag2r rider, Thomas attacked in the final 300m, leading Landa across the line in a confident display a few weeks out from the Giro.
After that impressive victory, and with Pinot crossing the line in fifth place, 13 seconds down, Thomas moved from fourth to first overall.
The Tour of the Alps will continue on Thursday with a 165.3km from Bolzano to Cles, and will conclude in Trento on Friday.
Results
Tour of the Alps 2017, stage three: Villabassa to Funes San Pietro (142km)
1. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky, in 3-47-50
2. Mikel Landa (Esp) Team Sky
3. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale, at 3 secs
4. Pierre Rolland (Fra) Cannondale-Drapac, at 13 secs
5. Thibaut Piont (Fra) FDJ, at 13secs
6. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Astana, at 14 secs
7. Damiano Caruso (Ita) BMC Racing Team, at 14 secs
8. Emanuel Buchmann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 14 secs
9. Hugh Carthy (GBr) Cannondale-Drapac, at 14 secs
10. Davide Formolo (Ita) Cannondale-Drapac, at 14 secs
General classification after stage three
1. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky, in 10-40-02
2. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale, at 16 secs
3. Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ, at 19 secs
4. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Astana, at 21 secs
5. Davide Formolo (Ita) Cannondale-Drapac, at 31 secs
6. Mikel Landa (Esp) Team Sky. at 36 secs
7. Hugh Carthy (GBr) Cannondale-Drapac, at 39 secs
8. Damiano Caruso (Ita) BMC Racing, at 42 secs
9. Pierre Rolland (Fra) Cannondale-Drapac, at 46 secs
10. Danilo Celano (Ita) Italy, at 48 secs
Thank you for reading 20 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
-
How to watch the Olympic cycling time trial at Paris 2024
Get all the information you need to watch the action of the men's and women's Olympic cycling time trial at Paris 2024
By Cat Glowinski Published
-
Ribble Cycles looking to capitalise on 'big summer of sport' with 30% off highly-rated models
Direct-to-consumer Ribble Cycles has always been rated highly among the Cycling Weekly tech team. This is our pick of the best Road, Gravel and E-bikes from their 'Summer Sale'
By Matt Ischt-Barnard Published
-
It's time to stop expecting so much of Ineos Grenadiers at the Tour de France
The British team are always under pressure to match their past best, but it’s not going to happen anytime soon
By Adam Becket Published
-
Ill Geraint Thomas battling to remain in Tour de France
The 2018 Tour de France winner is showing mild symptoms of Covid
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
'It was damage limitation': Tom Pidcock, Jai Hindley react to losing time on Tour de France stage two
"There’s going to be minutes in three weeks. 21 seconds doesn't mean anything," says Tom Pidcock after first blows dealt from the favourites in Bologna
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock says Ineos Grenadiers will be 'better' at the Tour de France without Steve Cummings
Netflix series depicted tension between the DS and rider, dynamic sources told Cycling Weekly carries a degree of accuracy
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock 'dreaming' of taking yellow jersey on opening weekend of Tour de France
British rider hopes to play starring role in Italian Grand Départ
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I think I'll get the opportunity to go for a stage' - Geraint Thomas relishing support role at Tour de France
Former yellow jersey winner says this year's race "could be my last"
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Geraint Thomas not picked by GB during his final Olympic cycle
Double gold medallist misses out on spot in five-man road team
By Adam Becket Published
-
Carlos Rodríguez to lead Ineos Grenadiers at Tour de France, supported by Geraint Thomas and Tom Pidcock
British squad will aim to "race aggressively and disrupt" at the French Grand Tour
By Adam Becket Published