Critérium du Dauphiné 2016 Stage 3: Aru outpowers peloton after brilliant descent, Contador retains in lead

At182 kilometres, stage 3 in the Critérium du Dauphiné traverses the Ardeche massif halfway, while a short steep climb with 15 kilometres remaining ushers in the finale. It's there Fabio Aru attacks to power to victory in a mindblowing descent, outperforming the sprinting peloton by 2 seconds. Alberto Contador punctures in the finale, yet he stays in the lead. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 3rd stage Critérium du Dauphiné

1. Fabio Aru (ita)
2. Alexander Kristoff (nor) + 0.02
3. Niccolò Bonifazio (ita) s.t.
4. Julian Alaphilippe (fra) s.t.
5. Edvald Boasson Hagen (nor) s.t.
6. Sam Bannett (irl) s.t.
7. Daryl Impey (rsa) s.t.
8. Nacer Bouhanni (fra) s.t.
9. Enrico Gasparotto (ita) s.t.
10. Arthur Vichot (fra) s.t.

GC after the 3rd stage
1. Alberto Contador (spa)
2. Richie Porte (aus) + 0.06
3. Chris Froome (gbr) + 0.13
4. Daniel Martin (irl) + 0.21
5. Julian Alaphilippe (fra) + 0.24
6. Jesús Herrada (spa) + 0.27
7. Adam Yates (gbr) + 0.31
8. Diego Rosa (ita) + 0.37
9. Daniel Navarro (spa) + 0.43
10. Bauke Mollema (nld) + 0.48

16. Joaquim Rodriguez (spa) + 1.02
17. Mikel Landa (spa) + 1.03
22. Romain Bardet (fra) + 1.12
27. Fabio Aru (ita) + 1.15

Race report
Shortly after the start Niki Terpstra, Thomas De Gendt and Dimitri Claeys get clear. It takes a while to force a proper gap but then it balloons to a maximum at 6 minutes.

With 75 kms remaining the gap has gone down to 2 minutes when Perrig Quémeneur and Cyril Gautier launch a counter-attack. They join the front group, yet the gain keeps geting down, which brings Terpstra to the decision to go solo in the drop of the Col du Rouvey. The others re-join him, with the exception of Quémeneur – yet, with 27 kms to go, the break is history.

At Côte de Sécheras Tony Martin goes on the attack with Pierre Rolland and Tsgabu Grmay chasing. Just under the top Ary joins them, while Luis Leon Sanchez, Steve Morabito, Bart De Clercq and Adam Yates hook up in the false flat after the top. They bring Martin back before Fabio Aru goes solo.

With a brilliant descent the Italian takes his bold attack home, thus tasting the sweetness of revenge after he lost 20 seconds yesterday.