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Sagan strikes at the Tour Down Under, winning in Uraidla for second straight year

Woods tries late attack, Bevin keeps race lead

January 17, 2019
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Peter Sagan has earned his first win of the season, repeating his 2018 feat of taking the Tour Down Under stage finishing in Uraidla on Thursday. Michael Woods put in a bid for glory inside the final 3-km, while Patrick Bevin (New Zealand/CCC) retained his ochre leader’s jersey.



The Course

The riders had 146 hot kilometres to roll on Thursday, with the seven laps of the 14-km finish circuit in Uraidla, each ending with a slightly uphill finish.



Viviani in the Breakaway

Elia Viviani, winner of Stage 1, was in a seven man break that established itself soon after the start in Lobethal. By winning the two intermediate sprints, he was the race leader on the road over Bevin by one second.

The breakaway had been reduced by the time a crash interrupted CCC’s pace making with 40-km to go. At that point two EF Education First riders bridged over to the remnants of the escape, making three EF fellows out of six. Then, Michael Woods’ tie-died teammates Alberto Bettiol and James Whelan bolted on the others.

Endgame

Bettiol was on his own when Mitchelton-Scott caught him in the final lap. Then, Education First’s Lachlan Morton whipped up the pace. Sky’s Frenchman Kenny Ellisonde lit out on his own, drawing Woods’ own solo attempt within 3-km of the line. Mitchelton-Scott was responsible for Woods’ capture too.

Last year’s champion Daryl Impey launched with 500-metres to go. Sagan grabbed his wheel and both he and Astana’s LL Sanchez outpowered the South African at the line, the Slovakian winning with the bike throw.

Woods placed 18th on the same time with Sagan, Bevin was fifth and Viviani faded considerably on the circuits, finishing in a group 12:30 in arrears. It’s now Sagan one second behind Bevin, and Woods moves up to 11th on GC, 15-seconds from the top.

Michael Woods rehydrates in Uraidla after a busy, hot stage. Photo: Sirotti

2019 Santos Tour Down Under Stage 3
1) Peter Sagan (Slovakia/Bora-Hansgrohe) 3:46:06
2) LL Sanchez (Spain/Astana) s.t.
3) Daryl Impey (South Africa/Mitchelton-Scott) s.t.
18) Michael Woods (Canada/EF Education First) s.t.

2019 Santos Tour Down Under
1) Patrick Bevin (New Zealand/CCC) 10:20:09
2) Peter Sagan (Slovakia/Bora-Hansgrohe) +0:01
3) LL Sanchez (Spain/Astana) +0:09
11) Michael Woods (Canada/EF Education First) +0:15