Cadel Evans triumphs in Tour Down Under Stage 3, assumes GC lead

Cadel Evans (Australia/BMC) launched a crisp attack on Corkscrew Hill in less than 10 km from the finish of Wednesday’s third stage of the Santos Tour Down Under to win the day and take the ochre leader’s jersey from compatriot Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEdge). It’s the first time that Evans, the 2011 Tour de France champion, has won a stage or pulled on the ochre jersey at his home tour.

The day’s breakaway consisted of Travis Meyer (Australia/Drapac), Jerome Cousin (France/Europcar), Andriy Grivko (Ukraine/Astana) and perennial animator Jens Voigt (Germany/Trek), with Cousin the first to wilt in the baking heat. Meyer capitulated on the leadup to Corkscrew Hill while Sky whipped up the peloton’s pace for their man Richie Porte.

The last two fugitives were lassoed on Corkscrew as BMC worked to put Evans in the best position. Evans and Porte scooted away up the ascent, but Porte couldn’t hold Evans’ pace. Cadel “Cuddles” Evans took a 17-second lead over the summit and then plummeted down the other side. Evans’ gap over Gerrans and Porte at the finish and a 10-second bonus put him in the race lead by 13 seconds over Gerrans, with Porte 33 seconds in arrears. Between Gerrans and Porte, sitting 29 seconds back, is a spry looking Robert Gesink (The Netherlands/Belkin).

Canadian Guillaume Boivin (Cannondale) came in 82nd on the day and currently resides at 77th on GC.