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Drapac’s Koning strikes in Stage 3 of Tour de San Luis, assumes lead

Australian Pro Continental outfit Drapac scored a big victory Wednesday in the Argentinean Tour de San Luis, with Dutchman Peter Koning attacking his breakaway mates before the final climb of the day.

January 20, 2016
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Australian Pro Continental outfit Drapac scored a big victory Wednesday in the Argentinean Tour de San Luis, with Dutchman Peter Koning attacking his breakaway mates before the final climb of the day and then descending with aplomb to snatch the lead from the stage’s runner-up, Fernando Gaviria (Colombia/Etixx-QuickStep). It was Koning’s first professional win. Gaviria now sits 6-seconds in arrears.

Koning was part of a four-man breakaway that slipped off early to battle for mountains points on two Cat. 3’s. With 30-km and the Cat. 2 Mirador del Potrero to go, Koning bolted on the others, scaling the slopes alone.

Back in the peloton, pressure on the front from Gaviria and Peter Sagan created a split of 15 riders which grew to around twenty by the finish line in La Punta. Vincenzo Nibali, Nairo Quintana and Andrew Talansky were all present. Sagan tried to reach Koning on the descent, but could only take 4th on the day.

Koning finished 1:37 in front of the elite group, with his breakmates all sucked up and spat out the back. Rafal Majka (Poland/Tinkoff) and two-time winner Dani Diaz (Argentina/Delko Marseille) lost time to their rivals.

Thursday sees the first summit stage, with riders cresting Cat. 1 Alto Del Amago two flat kilometres from the finish line.

2016 Tour de San Luis Stage 3
1) Peter Koning (The Netherlands/Drapac) 3:08:41
2) Fernando Gaviria (Colombia/Etixx-QuickStep) +1:37
3) Travis McCabe (USA/Holowesko-Citadel) s.t.


2016 Tour de San Luis GC
1) Peter Koning (The Netherlands/Drapac) 7:57:42
2) Fernando Gaviria (Colombia/Etixx-QuickStep) +0:06
3) Max Richeze (Argentina/Etixx-QuickStep) +0:22