O’Connor wins Alps third stage, Froome sixth

MILAN: Australian Ben O’Connor won the third stage of the Tour of the Alps on Wednesday with Britain’s four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome finishing sixth.

Dimension Data rider O’Connor crossed alone five seconds ahead of Thibaut Pinto of FDJ with the French rider taking the overall race lead, after the 138.3km ride from Ora to Merano in northern Italy.

Overnight leader Ivan Sosa of Colombia crashed out on the final descent.“Even if I missed the stage victory ... I’m satisfied to wear the leader’s jersey,” said Pinot, who finished second in the Alps last year behind Britain’s Geraint Thomas.

O’Connor added: “It’s just great to now be able to race with the best and to manage to pull that off is surreal.“In cycling, I’m not especially aiming to win the Tour de France or the World Championship, I just want to be the best I can be and today, I won this hard stage.”

Italy’s Domenico Pozzovivo and Colombian Miguel Angel Lopez Moreno are second and third overall with Team Sky’s Froome holding fourth as he continues his preparations for next month’s Giro d’Italia.Froome crossed the line in sixth on the stage which featured two difficult climbs along the way which split the peloton and a final summit 25km from the finish.