Caleb Ewan wins another close sprint finish in Tour of Britain to move back into race lead

Orica-Scott rider out-sprints Edvald Boasson Hagen in Scunthorpe - Photos by Andy Jones

Caleb Ewan in the lead after Tour of Britain 2017 stage three

(Image credit: Andy Jones)

Caleb Ewan (Orica-Scott) sprinted to his second stage win of the 2017 Tour of Britain as he edged out Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data) in a close finish in Scunthorpe.

The Australian sprinter had lead-out man Luka Mezgec to thank for reeling in a late attack by Philippe Gilbert (Quick-Step Floors), before Ewan launched his final acceleration for the line.

Ewan and Boasson Hagen were well clear of most of the rest of the sprinters with only Alexander Kristoff (Katusha-Alpecin) in their wheels, and it was Ewan who won by half a wheel on the line.

Caleb Ewan pips Edvald Boasson Hagen to the line, Tour of Britain 2017 stage three. Photo: Andy Jones
(Image credit: Andy Jones)

Erstwhile race leader Elia Viviani (Team Sky) finished in seventh place and out of the time bonuses, meaning that the leader's green jersey went back to Ewan.

>>> Tour of Britain 2017 route: stage-by-stage details and where to watch

How it happened

The third stage of the 2017 Tour of Britain rolled out from Normanby Hall under teeming rain, with the slick roads taking no prisoners as James Lowsley-Williams (Bike Channel-Canyon) crashed on a slipper right-hand bend while trying to get away from the peloton.

After a few kilometres five riders were able to escape, all from British domestic teams, and including Graham Briggs (JLT Condor) who made it into the break for the third day in succession. Also in the move were Harry Tanfield (Bike Channel-Canyon), Peter Williams (One Pro Cycling), Matthew Holmes (Madison Genesis), and Briggs's JLT-Condor team-mate Ian Bibby.

The peloton on Burringham Bridge, Tour of Britain 2017 stage three. Photo: Andy Jones
(Image credit: Andy Jones)

The break established and given a lead of around 3-30, Team Sky moved to the front of the peloton to control the race in the testing wet and windy conditions.

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Geraint Thomas was the Sky rider charged with maintaining the gap, and he did a sterling job setting the pace almost single handedly while Briggs led the race through all of the intermediate sprints and over the first two KOM points to move into the lead of both competitions.

Elia Viviani on stage three of the 2017 Tour of Britain. Photo: Andy Jones
(Image credit: Andy Jones)

With 75km remaining the gap finally started to fall, the seconds ticking away and falling under two minutes for the first time with 35km to go.

By that point Katusha-Alpecin and Orica-Scott had joined Team Sky in the chase, and just after the final KOM point at Winterton which was taken by Bibby, the catch was made.

James Lowsley Williams takes a tumble on the wet stage, Tour of Britain 2017 stage three. Photo: Andy Jones
(Image credit: Andy Jones)

From there a bunch sprint seemed inevitable, but that didn't deter Rob Partridge (Bike Channel-Canyon) nor Simone Andreeta (Bardiani CSF), both of whom launched solo attacks which were duly reeled in by the sprinters' trains.

>>> Caleb Ewan: I'll have more rivals in my career than just Fernando Gaviria

Having held back for most of the Dimension Data hit the front en masse with four kilometres remaining, four riders sitting in front of Edvald Boasson Hagen, who was hoping to make amends for being relegated on stage two.

With 600m Philippe Gilbert attempted to upset the odds with a strong late attack, but was reeled in by a strong lead-out effort by Luka Mezgec (Orica-Scott), before Ewan burst clear.

The diminutive Australian was challenged hard by Boasson Hagen, but held off the Norwegian's challenge to take his second stage win of the race and move back into the overall lead.

Graham Briggs, KOM leader, Tour of Britain 2017 stage three. Photo: Andy Jones
(Image credit: Andy Jones)

Results

Tour of Britain 2017, stage three: Normanby Hall Country Park to Scunthorpe, 178km

1. Caleb Ewan (Aus) Orica-Scott, in 4-04-05

2. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Dimension Data

3. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha-Alpecin

4. Brenton Jones (NZl) JLT Condor

5. Mads Würtz Schmidt (Den) Katusha-Alpecin

6. Andrea Pasqualon (Ita) Wanty-Groupe Gobert

7. Elia Viviani (Ita) Team Sky

8. Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Quick-Step Floors

9. Daniele Bennati (Ita) Movistar

10. Nikolas Maes (Bel) Lotto-Soudal, all at same time

General classification after stage three

1. Caleb Ewan (Aus) Orica-Scott, in 4-04-05

2. Elia Viviani (Ita) Team Sky, at 6 secs

3. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Dimension Data, at 7 secs

4. Karol Domagalski (Pol) One Pro Cycling, at 14 secs

5. Silvan Dillier (Sui) BMC Racing, at 15 secs

6. Kamil Gradek (Pol) One Pro Cycling, at 15 secs

7. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha-Alpecin, at 16 secs

8. Fernando Gaviria (Col) Quick-Step Floors, at 16 secs

9. Lars Boom (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo, at 18 secs

10. Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Quick-Step Floors, at 20 secs

Caleb Ewan regains the overall race lead, Tour of Britain 2017 stage three. Photo: Andy Jones
(Image credit: Andy Jones)

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Henry Robertshaw began his time at Cycling Weekly working with the tech team, writing reviews, buying guides and appearing in videos advising on how to dress for the seasons. He later moved over to the news team, where his work focused on the professional peloton as well as legislation and provision for cycling. He's since moved his career in a new direction, with a role at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.