Caleb Ewan powered across the cobbles in Umbria on Wednesday to take the finishing sprint at the end of the third stage of Tirreno-Adriatico.
The Australian surged past Arnaud Demare in the finishing straight after a 170km third stage from Murlo to Terni. Olav Kooij was third and Nacer Bouhanni fourth.
Filippo Ganna retained the overall lead, 11 seconds ahead of Remco Evenepoel, with defending champion Tadej Pogacar 14 seconds behind.
On Wednesday, the 27-year-old was in the right place at the right time for his first stage victory in the ‘Race of the Two Seas’.
“I’ve been coming for a few years and I’ve always had bad luck or lack of form. It’s a race where I wanted to win,” he said. “I’m happy with the way the year is starting.”
Tour de France champion Pogacar and French world champion Julian Alaphilippe were the main agitators of the last part of the stage, breaking away with less than 30 kilometres to go in a group of four.
The quartet built of to 25 seconds but were hauled in by the sprinters’ teams with 13 km to go.
Thursday’s hilly fourth stage runs 202km from Cascata delle Marmore to Bellante.
