After an active final, with multiple attacks by ORICA-GreenEDGE riders, ColombianEsteban Chaves has finished eighth in a select 30-rider group finish on stage three of the Tour de Suisse.

Two attacks by hometown rider Michael Albasini in the last ten kilometres and another by Chaves under the flamme rouge helped shape an aggressive finale, eventually controlled by Tinkoff-Saxo to deliver Peter Sagan to the stage victory.

“We knew it was going to be pretty hard for the final,” sport director Neil Stephens. “But with the break up the road we committed Svein Tuft to a large degree andMathew Hayman to a lesser degree to the chase.

“We thought it was going to be more of a bunch sprint with perhaps Albasini and Michael Matthews having a chance but as it unfolded Michael Albasini took the race by the reigns which was great to see.

“Not only that but when he got caught he went again to try and keep the pace up for Matthews.”

For Chaves, the priority was general classification.

“We said to Esteban that today was all about the general classification, not to get involved in the stage finish too much but it’s great that he could be there contributing in the final for Matthews also.”