After two near misses, Colbrelli clinches stage 3

Team Bahrain’s Sonny Colbrelli of Italy celebrates after victory in the third stage of the 73rd edition of the Criterium du Dauphine cycling race, 172km between Langeac and Saint-Haon-Le-Vieux, yesterday. (AFP)

Sonny Colbrelli finally broke through at the Criterium du Dauphine yesterday overhauling Alex Aranburu in an uphill sprint in Saint-Haon-le-Vieux. Austrian Lukas Postlberger of Bora retained the yellow jersey ahead of today’s 16.4km time trial. Colbrelli had shown he was the strongest sprinter in the peloton in the first two stages. But on both days, the Italian had to settle for second after his Bahrain Victorious team failed to haul in the last breakaway rider. “After two second places, today I’m very happy for this victory,” Colbrelli said at the finish. The peloton caught the day’s breakaway with 20km to go on a flat 172.2 km ride. Despite a crash late in the stage, the pack was all together as it hit the final uphill drag.  Aranburu of Astana surged clear with 300 metres to go but Colbrelli reacted at once and gave chase. In a slow-motion battle up the slope, the Italian drew level with 100m to go and gradually pulled clear. American Brandon McNulty of UAE came through to grab third “It was a very hard last kilometre,” said Colbrelli. “I followed Aranburu’s wheel but it was tough to pass him.” Colbrelli increased his lead in the points classification and the bonus seconds he collected took him to two seconds behind Postlberger in the overall classification. Results and overall standings third stage Stage 3 1. Sonny Colbrelli (ITA/Bahrain) 3hr 56min 36sec, 2. Alex Aranburu (ESP/AST) s.t., 3. Brandon McNulty (USA/UAE) s.t., 4. Jasper Stuyven (BEL/TRE) s.t., 5. Wildo Kelderman (NED/BOR) s.t., 6. Clément Venturini (FRA/AG2) s.t., 7. Carlos Barbero (ESP/QHU) s.t., 8. Clement Russo (FRA/ARK) s.t., 9. Tim Wellens (BEL/LOT) s.t., 10. Kasper Asgreen (DEN/DEC) s.t., Overall standings 1. Lukas Postlberger (AUT/Bora) 12hr 35min 8sec, 2. Sonny Colbrelli (ITA/BAH) at 2sec, 3. Alex Aranburu (ESP/AST) 18, 4. Alejandro Valverde (ESP/MOV) 20, 5. Kasper Asgreen (DEN/DEC) 23, 6. Quentin Pacher (FRA/BBH) 24, 7. Patrick Konrad (AUT/BOR) s.t., 8. Geraint Thomas (GBR/INE) s.t., 9. Ilan Van Wilder (BEL/DSM) s.t., 10. Steven Kruijswijk (NED/JUM) s.t. Selected 11. Sepp Kuss (USA/JUM) at 24, 21. Nairo Quintana (COL/ARK) s.t., 22. Tao Geoghegan Hart (GBR/INE) s.t., 28. Richie Porte (AUS/INE) s.t., 32. Miguel Angel Lopez (COL/MOV) s.t., 58. Chris Froome (GBR/ISR) 3min 54sec, 61. Brandon McNulty (USA/UAE) 4:31