The German Lennard Kamna (Bora Hansgrohe) has imposed himself alone in the third stage of the Tour of the Alps, disputed between Ritten and Brentonico San Valentino162.5 km, in which the British Tao Geoghegan Hart (Ineos) kept the green leader’s jersey. Kamna (Wedel, 26 years old), with a record embellished with stages in Tour, Giro, Dauphiné and Volta a Cataluña in a total of 9 wins, finished off a good job planned by his team with a victory in which he raised his arms for the second time in the Tour of the Alps, with a time of 4:06:13, at an average of 39.6 km/hour.
The German cyclist entered with a 4-second advantage over his Russian teammate Alexander Vlasov and the Ecuadorian Jefferson Cepeda (EF Education), the latter the cheerleader at the head of the race in the last kilometers in conflict with Kamna. The South American cyclist at least placed fourth overall, 36 seconds behind the leader.
A leader, Tao Geoghegan, who defended himself well protected by his team and who attacked at the end to avoid the offensive of his rivals near the finish line. The Londoner, winner of the 2020 Giro d’Italia, will enter the fourth stage with 22 seconds ahead of his EF compatriot Hugh Carthy and 28 over Australian Bahrain Jack Haig. The day had two difficulties, Lago Di Cei (2nd, 9.7 km at 7.6 percent) and the final ascent to San Valentino, where the most interesting stories of the day happened.
From the outset, there was a breakaway for 12 riders, with the Spanish Txomin Juaristi (Euskaltel Euskadi) on an exciting journey that maintained a difference of more than 4 minutes with only 20 km to go; but of course, there was still the ascent to the finish line via the Passo Brentonico San Valentino (1a, 15.4 km to 7.5). Shortly before the ascent, the escape began to dissolve at a forced march. The Ineos was already in the peloton tensing the rhythm to control the climb and put the leader in condition Tao Geoghegan. The Italian Andrea Vendrame and the Austrian Lukas Postlberger (Jayco) left ahead.
None got far, as the American Joe Dombrowski (Astana) took the baton as the applicant, another victim of the voracious hunger of the main group, who did not forgive. The group of favorites with Bora and Ineos hand in hand eliminated the escapees of the day one by one, scattered around the port, suffering the effort of the whole day to the fullest.
But the initiative came from a German named Lennard Kamna, on leave from his team after all day in command of the stage. The German opened a gap, but the Ecuadorian Cepeda caught up with him, ready to live his day of glory. Cepeda tried to get rid of Kamna, but he acted intelligently, he left the effort to his rival, and at 600 meters he left him planted, and almost sunk. Up to the finish line it was a triumphant ride. In pursuit he strained the leader. A final reaction to leave things as they were. Tao Geoghegan is still the king of the Alps. This Thursday the fourth stage will be held between Rovereto and Predazzo, of 152.9 km. Two ascents on the route, Passo Sommo (1st, 15.7km at 7.3%) and Passo Pramadiccio (2nd, 9.7km at 6.2), with the top 13km from the finish line.
Classification of the 3rd stage
1st Lennard Kämna (ALE/Bora) 4h 06:13
2nd Aleksandr Vlasov (RUS/Bora) to 4
3rd Jefferson Cepeda (ECU/Education First) mt
4th Tao Geoghegan Hart (GBR/Ineos) mt
15th Mikel Bizkarra (Euskaltel) 1:06
General
1º Tao Geoghegan Hart (GBR/Ineos) 11h 21:39
2nd Hugh Carthy (GBR/Education) at 22
3rd Jack Haig (AUS/Bahrain) 28
4th Jefferson Cepeda (ECU/Education) 36
12th Mikel Bizkarra (Euskatel) 22nd