Javier Romo (Movistar) surprised the pre-race favourites with a late attack in the final kilometres to win the Tour Down Under stage 3 in Uraidla.
Romo stayed in the reduced peloton, letting the other teams cover moves the second time up Knotts Hill, and then countered with a massive acceleration as they crested inside of six kilometres to go. A moment of hesitation by the 20-rider group was enough for the Spanish rider to get a gap as he flew down to the finish line.
Behind, first Chris Harper (Jayco-AlUla) and Oscar Onley (Picnic PostNL) each tried to catch Romo solo but their respective moves were shut down as the small group sped to the finish line.
Luke Plapp (Jayco-AlUla) led out the sprint but was swamped by the charging group. Jhonathan Narvaez (UAE Team Emirates XRG) secured second by a bike throw ahead of Finn Fisher-Black (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) who was third. Albert Withen Philipsen (Lidl-Trek) took fourth.
Romo takes over the ochre leader’s jersey with eight seconds on Narvaez. Patrick Konrad (Lidl-Trek) is third, and Fisher-Black fourth, both tied at 10 seconds.
More to follow…..
Results