Trek Factory Racing managed to bring their GC riders Robert Kiserlovski and Julian Arredondo safely through a very tricky third stage of Tirreno-Adriatico. The team is hopeful that their duo of climbers will be in the mix for a top 10 result at the end of the race.

The 210-kilometer stage from Cascina to Arezzo resulted in a bunch sprint despite a solo effort from Bjorn Thurau (Europcar) who forged ahead of his four breakaway compatriots in the closing kilometers. It was a plucky effort for glory after the five riders had gone clear in the early part of the long stage, gaining over six minutes before Omega Pharma-Quick Step stepped in to control the gap.

Trek Factory Racing moved to the front in the technical Arezzo circuits that ended the long stage to lend a hand in the chase, and also keep Julián Arredondo and Robert Kiserlovski near the front on the tricky, narrow roads.

Thurau would finally succumb and sit up with six kilometers to go, starting a fierce battle for positioning into the technical finish that included a narrow, twisty road and 5% incline.

It was a perfect ending for Peter Sagan (Cannondale) who powered to the line for the stage win, ahead of Michal Kwiatkowski (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) and Simon Clarke (Orica GreenEdge).  Omega Pharma-Quick Step continue to hold the top two spots in the overall after winning the TTT on the first day, with Michal Kwiatkowski in the leaders jersey ahead of teammate Rigoberto Uran. Simon Clarke has slotted into third with his top three placing today.

“The idea today was not to have any time gap at the end for our GC riders Arredondo and Kiserlovski. Everything was working okay with positioning until the final sprint there was a small gap, but it should not change too much. For sure today we would have preferred to have better position in the final meters - to put the right guys in the perfect position - but we are confident in the next days that we can do something good.

“[Michal] Kwiatkowski earned some more seconds today, and that will make it a more difficult fight over the next days. Our goal is to have someone up there in the top 10, so we will focus on that.

“Tomorrow is a long stage, but that is good for preparation for Milan-Sanremo – also with waking up early for the start. It will be a really hard stage, and we hope to be up there for the end. It will give us a little test run before Sanremo.”

You can read our preview of stage 4 here.