Giro 2015 Stage 3: Michael Matthews wins in pink

In 136 kilometres stage 3 is the shortest in the 2015 Giro. Then again, the route is explosive and so is the finale with a sprint. Michael Matthews outpowers his competion with Felline second and Gilbert third. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 3rd stage 2015 Giro

1. Michael Matthews (aus)
2. Fabio Felline (ita) s.t.
3. Philippe Gilbert (bel) s.t.
4. Sergey Lagutin (rus) s.t.
5. Paolo Tiralongo (ita) s.t.
6. Luca Paolini (ita) s.t.
7. Francesco Gavazi (ita) s.t.
8. Enrico Battaglin (ita) s.t.
9. Luis Leon Sanchez (spa) s.t.
10. Jonathan Monsalve (col) s.t.

12. Fabio Aru (ita) s.t.
19. Alberto Contador (spa) s.t.
35. Richie Porte (aus) s.t.
42. Rigoberto Uran (col) s.t.

GC after stage 3
1. Michael Matthews (aus)
2. Simon Clarke (aus) + 0.06
3. Simon Gerrans (aus) + 0.10
4. Esteban Chaves (col) s.t.
5. Roman Kreuziger (cze) + 0.17
6. Alberto Contador (spa) s.t.
7. Michael Rogers (aus) s.t.
8. Paolo Tiralongo (ita) + 0.23
9. Fabio Aru (ita) s.t.
10. Diego Rosa (ita) s.t.

15. Rigoberto Uran (col) + 0.29
30. Richie Porte (aus) + 0.37

Race report
Shortly after the start the road goes up and it’s there a large front group takes shape. Riders aboard are Philippe Gilbert, Maciej Paterski, Diego Ulissi, Edoarda Zardini, Adam Hansen, Laurent Didier, Esteban Chaves and Ruben Fernandez.

Climbing up Colle Caprile, the first categorized ascent, the front group breaks. Edoarda Zardini is the first to crest, and Ulissi, Herrada and Hansen all take KOM-points. Most riders of the original break are back upfront with 78 km’s left.

Both intermediate sprints are won by Philippe Gilbert, with Simon Clarke second – taking 3 and 2 bonus-seconds on both occasions.

The peloton controls the break. The gap was three minutes for a while, but when Tinkoff-Saxo moves takes the front it’s down to 1 minute and it stays like that until climbing up the 2nd category ascent Barbagelata. With a 0´40` gain Kocketkov is the first to crest, meaning he will be in the KOM-jersey tomorrow. His former companions in the break are chasing.

In the descent Pozzovivo hits the tarmac. He doesn´t move an is taken out of the race in an ambulance.

When reaching the flat closing section of 24 km´s Kochetkov enjoys a 0´25` bonus over his chasers. With the peloton approaching Paterski, Clarke and Clarke hook up with Kocketkov with 11 km´s left. But the pack is closing in and they are caught with 4 km´s to go.

Most fast men are dropped on the climbs along the way, meaning Michael Matthews to win in pink. And so he does. He outsprints Fabio Felline and Philippe Gilbert and cements his lead.