2015 Tour of Alberta Stage 3: Dutch treat in the Rocky Mountains, Mollema back in yellow
Cannondale-Garmin’s Dutchman Tom-Jelte Slagter climbed to victory in the Jasper National Park on Friday’s stage of the 2015 Tour of Alberta. Trek’s Bauke Mollema (The Netherlands) also got to slip on the yellow jersey and cowboy hat for the second time in three stages, as race leader Michael Matthews (Australia/Orica-GreenEdge) faltered on the steep grade.
The race transferred south from Grande Prairie to start in Grande Cache. It was another wet, cold day with snow falling, but the white stuff only stuck to the trees. Seven men shook loose on the day’s breakaway, including serial escapists Cesare Benedetti (Italy/Bora-Argon 18) and KOM leader Ben Perry (Canada/Silber).
The #toa2015 stage 3 heads to the mountains and there is fresh snow on route! pic.twitter.com/O8X8yHZ5NY
— Canadian Cycling Mag (@CDNCyclingMag) September 4, 2015
The first KOM points came at the 125-km mark with 57-km remaining. After losing a man to a mechanical, the sextet hit the foot of the climb with a 2:30 gap. Benedetti had apparently made a study of Perry’s moves on Thursday’s stage, as the Italian topped the climb in the lead. Inside the gate of Jasper National Park another KOM ascent awaited.
The sun came out and the layers came off. When the Orica-GreenEdge-powered peloton edged closer, two fugitives surged away from the others. On the climb, Jasper Bovenhuis (The Netherlands/Cannondale-Garmin) dropped Tom Zirbel (USA/Optum). With Trek at the head of the streamlined bunch, Bovenhuis didn’t have a chance to take the full points. Frenchman Laurent Didier (Trek) took the honours.
Seven kilometres of road tilted up to Miette Hot Springs in Jasper National Park to end the stage. Didier formed a trio over the top of the penultimate climb and pushed on to the final haul. The race came back together before the finale and Katusha wielded the whip.
Just before the red kite the attacks started to flare. Canadian Michael Woods (Optum) attacked up the right hand side of the road and stretched the elastic, but Tom-Jelte Slagter’s counterattack was too sharp to deny. The 2013 Tour of Alberta King of the Mountains left everyone behind. Slagter’s compatriot Bauke Mollema, the first yellow jersey wearer, took back the lead by coming runner-up.
First image of his winning moment. Congratulations @tomjelteslagter + #TOA15 team on the stage three win pic.twitter.com/yeX1q9tat2
— Cannondale-Garmin (@Ride_Argyle) September 4, 2015
Ryder Hesjedal at 10th on GC is only one of three Cannondale riders in the top-10. Katusha also had three athletes in the top 10.
Saturday’s clamber up to Marmot Basin Ski Area is far more difficult than Friday’s final ascent.
2015 Tour of Alberta Stage 3
1) Tom-Jelte Slagter (The Netherlands/Cannondale-Garmin) 4:28:18
2) Bauke Mollema (The Netherlands/Trek) s.t
3) Adam Yates (Great Britain/Orica-GreenEdge) +0:04
5) Michael Woods (Canada/Optum) +0:09
2015 Tour of Alberta GC
1) Bauke Mollema (The Netherlands/Trek) 9:01:28
2) Adam Yates (Great Britain/Orica-GreenEdge) +0:06
3) Sergey Lagutin (Russia/Katusha) +0:20
10) Ryder Hesjedal (Canada/Cannondale-Garmin) +0:53
