Amgen Tour of California - Stage 3 Results

A Classic Sprint Finish

Peter Sagan showed his amazing strength as he maneuvered his way around the other riders in a full sprint in front of him, gradually moving far right, he deftly passed them all to win Stage 3. It was a classic sprint finish, one that should have been, and was, rewound several times and viewed over and over to catch the instinctual movements of Sagan through the pack. A sprint finish remains one of the most thrilling events to watch in sports.

At the ATOC Press Conference after the stage, Peter Sagan said, "This win is for Mauro Da Dalto who was transported to the hospital after yesterday's stage. This victory is for him." The Italian rider is a Cannondale teammate and friend of Sagan's, who withdrew from the race after suffering heat-stroke at the end of Stage 2 on Monday and being transferred to hospital.

Maurio Da Dalta (Cannondale) before the start of Stage 2 yesterday. ©Photo by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

This is Peter Sagan's fourth year of competing in the Tour of California and his 9th stage win. The General Classification remains the same after Stage 3, with no changes in the order. Two big-time trial power-houses abandoned today and will be missed at the Individual Time Trial in San Jose on Friday - Tom Zirbel (Optum Kelly Benefit Strategies) and Bert Grabsch (Omega Pharma-Quickstep) are out of the race.

Stage 3 results - full results and standings on ATOC website

Stage 3 winner
Peter Sagan (SVK), Cannondale Pro Cycling

Stage 3 Podium (no podium shots today, I was celebrating a belated Mother's Day with Mom)

Peter Sagan (SVK), Cannondale Pro Cycling
Michael Matthews (AUS), ORICA GreenEDGE
Tyler Farrar (USA), Team Garmin-Sharp

General Classification (yellow)
Janier Alexis Acevedo (COL), Team Jamis – Hagens Berman

Sprint Classification (green)
Lieuwe Westra (NED), Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Tea

KOM Classification (polka dot)
Carter Jones (USA), BISSELL Pro Cycling

Best Young Rider (white)
Lawson Craddock (USA), Bontrager Cycling Team

Amgen Breakaway from Cancer Most Courageous Rider
Chad Beyer (USA), Champion System Pro Cycling Team

Team Classification
United Healthcare Pro Cycling

Top 10 General Classification: (no changes today)

Janier Acevedo Calle, Jamis, Columbia, 00"
Tejay van Garderen, BMC, USA, 12"
Philip Deignan, United Healthcare, Ireland, 27"
Mathias Frank, BMC, Switzerland, 45"
Michael Rogers, Saxo Bank-Tinkoff, Australia, 55"
Francisco Mancebo Perez, 5Hour Energy, Spain, 01'03"
Chad Haga, Optum, USA, 01'13"
Matthew Busche, RadioShack Leopard Trek, USA, 01'15"
Lawson Craddock, Bontrager, Australia, 01'32"
Cameron Meyer, Orica-GreenEdge, Australia, 01'40"

There remains 117 competitors, but the unbearable heat is now behind us, much cooler temperatures lay ahead. This photo sums up stages 1-3:

"May I have some water please!" ©Photo by Willie at Pedal Dancer®

Photos of today's winner - All Peter All The Time (Photos from Stages 1-3)

Peter and the Podium Girls: Joanna and Allison (I guess they didn't have a clean Slovakia National Champion jersey for Peter to change into before the podium presentation because he is missing his signature red stripe). ©Photo by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Peter Sagan is from Slovakia, age 23, he turned pro in 2009 and is the current Slovakian National Champion Road. Also read a previous Pedal Dancer post: Who is Peter Sagan?