Alexis Ryan has finished third in sprint final of stage three at the Santos Women’s Tour today in Lyndoch, Australia. After a fourth place on the opening stage of the tour Ryan continues to show her early season. Today’s penultimate stage was won by Chloe Hosking (ALE) from Kirsten Wild (CPC) in second and Ryan rounding out the podium.

With a temperatures close to 40 degrees celsius conditions were tough for the 92km stage. A lone breakaway rider with a lead of 1 minute 30 seconds was reeled in before the first Subaru QOM at Whispering Wall in Williamstown after 53km. The second time up the QOM created a lead group of 30 riders but a high pace set by Orica-Scott for the final 12km run into the finish forced a bunch sprint.

After the race Alexis Ryan said, “It was so hard. That QOM was very painful, it made the legs sting. The QOM was hard both times and Tiff and I were there in the front group. At one point I saw Kirsten Wild come flying by on the descent and I so I knew with her and Chloe Hosking both there, they’re both powerful riders, so I knew it would be hard to beat them in a sprint.”

“It was a headwind so I didn’t want to go too early. I started the sprint third and finished in third. It’s a podium and I wish I could have won and got a better result for the team. Hopefully it’s coming soon.”

The final stage of the 2017 Santos Women’s Tour is an evening criterium in Victoria Park, Adelaide on Tuesday 17 January.

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