We LOVE it when riders that reach out and grab the race by the scruff of it’s neck and BOY did they supply us the thrills!
Tour of the Alps Stage 3: Ora to Merano, 138.3km
A short,sharp route with a white knuckle descent provided a stage packed with excitement and career defining victory for Dimension Data’s Ben O’Connor. The young Aussie jumped clear with Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) and Bahrain-Merida’s Domenico Pozzovivo on the Passo della Mendola. They were caught by an Astana and Sky led elite group swooping down the Passo Padale but O’Connor didn’t drop his head. He leapt away on the false flat run in and had the strength to take it to the finish line. Pinot and Pozzovivo duked it out for second and third in the select group sprint.
Race leader Ivan Sosa (Androni – Sidermec – Bottecchia) crashed on the final descent and tumbled to 20th place on GC. Astana’s Miguel Angel Lopez took the strange decision to chase O’Connor when he had a teammate with him and lost seconds. The fuchsia jersey passes to Pinot who holds 15secs on Pozzovivo and Lopez.
Video…
Magnificence!
This video with Ben working with the Qhubeka charity is just lovely
On the menu for stage 4….
Full race report at Cycling News
Race website. Twitter #TotA
La Fleche Wallonne: Seraing to Huy, 198.5km
Julian Alaphilippe FINALLY stepped to the top of the podium with a double kick to victory on the Mur de Huy. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) had to settle for second with Lotto Soudal’s Jelle Vanendert rounding out the podium.
What a ride by these two youngsters
Embed from Getty ImagesMitchelton-Scott’s Jack Haig and Quick Step Floor’s Max Schachmann both leapt away in late move instigated by Vincenzo Nibali – who else! Niblets surrendered at the bottom of the climb but this pair just kept on going.
Our race review is here Race report and full results from Cycling News
Race website. Twitter #FlecheWallonne
La Fleche Wallonne Feminin: Huy to Huy, 118.5 km
Anna van der Breggan celebrated her birthday by grabbing her fourth consecutive Fleche Wallonne victory to add to those at the Tour of Flanders and Strade Bianche. Her Boels-Dolmans teammate Megan Guarnier and Mitchelton-Scott’s Amanda Spratt attacked late in the finale and stubbornly stayed out front on the Mur du Huy until passed by Van der Breggan and second place Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (Cervelo-Bigla). Guarnier held on for third.
Video…
I’m pretty sure I would hate riding it too. Well I say ride, I’m not sure I could even walk the Mur du Huy
Although Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio was looking forward to it.
Shara Gillow fought back from a crash and two bike changes to finish 6th on the day – a result she is rightly proud of.
Here’s the translated story from FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope’s race report n Facebook
Where were the pictures?
Like the men’s edition, the women’s race unfolded to an exciting last 40km. Unlike the men’s race we didn’t get to see it.
Especially as the appetite is there
It didn’t go down well when the race organisers tweeted the little footage they had (basically the Huy) using the word relive…
All our very best wishes to Richie Steege who suffered a heart attack earlier this week. The Boels-Dolmans’ mechanic is beloved by cycling fans for his live race tweeting. We hope his recovery continues.
Race website. Twitter #FWWomen
Header Image: – Tim de Waele/Getty Images