Tour of the Alps 2019: Fausto Masnada brings late attack home

The 3rd stage of the Tour of the Alps is a short and explosive race with a demanding finale. Fausto Masnada attacks inside the last kilometres to power to the win, while young Pavel Sivakov remains leader. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 3rd stage Tour of the Alps 2019

1. Fausto Masnada (ita)
2. Tao Geoghegan Hart (gbr) + 0.05
3. Rafal Majka (pol) s.t.
4. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) s.t.
5. Dario Cataldo (ita) s.t.
6. Aleksandr Vlasov (rus) s.t.
7. Pavel Sivakov (rus) s.t.
8. Jan Hirt (cze) s.t.
9. Roland Thalmann (swi) s.t.
10. Mattia Cattaneo (ita) s.t.

GC after stage 3
1. Pavel Sivakov (rus)
2. Jan Hirt (cze) + 0.08
3. Mattia Cattaneo (ita) + 0.23
4. Rafal Majka (pol) + 0.35
5. Tao Geoghegan Hart (gbr) + 0.37
6. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) + 0.39
7. Hermann Pernsteiner + 1.01
8. Roland Thalmann (swi) + 1.08
9. Aleksandr Vlasov (rus) + 1.24
10. Fausto Masnada (ita) + 1.35

Race report
Quintero and Gesbert jump clear in the early stages of the race, while Nibali (Antonio), Boaro, Shalunov, Bagioli, Gavazzi, Nicolau, Barcelo, Velasco, Corradini and Tizza bridge across. The twelve open up a gap of more than 2 minutes.

Inside the last 20 kilometres the lead is approximately 1 minute. Gesbert attacks with Barcelo before Gesbert goes solo on the last climb. He is brought back inside the last 6 kilometres. Majka and Nibali (Vincenzo) counter-attack, but Froome tracks them down with leader Shivakov, Cataldo, Hirt, Geoghegan Hart and Cattaneo in his wheel. More riders bridge across, among them Masnada.

The Italian strikes with 1.5 kilometres remaining and solos to victory. Geoghegan Hart wins the sprint for second place ahead of Majka, while Sivakov retains the overall lead.

Another interesting read: route 3rd stage 2019 Tour of the Alps.