What a difference a few days can make. Just 48 hours after calling it \u201cthe worst day ever on the bike,\u201d Tom Pidcock showed his usual stuff, winning Stage 3 at the Tour of the Alps. Osgoode, Ont.\u2019s Derek Gee-West, who lost some time on Tuesday, looked good, finishing 20th and moving back up to 22nd.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn Tuesday I made my first major effort in a long time. It was quote a shock to my body. But I needed it,\u201d he said in a post-race interview to CyclingPro.net<\/a> after Stage 2.<\/a><\/p>\n The 174.5-kilometre stage from Laces to Arco packed more than 3,600 m of climbing, with the long Passo Castrin and the drag to Andalo softening the legs early. It only got messier from there. A heavy crash just two kilometres in forced a neutralization of over 15 minutes and saw several riders abandon, including under-23 world champion Lorenzo Finn.<\/p>\n Once things restarted, Sam Oomen and Darren Rafferty slipped clear and built a slender advantage that hovered around a minute through the middle of the stage. The pair held firm over the final uncategorized rise to Tenno, but with a fast run-in to Arco, the writing was on the wall.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe I went a bit too early in the final. I thought the finish was closer when the barriers started, and it was quite far. I was a bit worried, but I saw Egan was the first guy on the wheel, so I just kept going,\u201d Pidcock said after the race.<\/p>\n The win was more than welcome to the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team rider after suffering the day before, and with all the troubles of the last month.<\/p>\n \u201cWith my injury and the time off, it\u2019s been difficult. Coming back is very hard mentally. Even the first time I was dropped, it was tough to deal with. So yeah, this win feels really nice,\u201d Pidcock said.<\/p>\n The catch came inside five kilometres, setting up a reduced bunch sprint. Pidcock\u2019s teammates delivered him to the front at the right moment, and the 25-year-old made it count, turning the tables on<\/p>\n Stage 1 winner Tommaso Dati, with Egan Bernal taking third.<\/p>\n Bernal\u2019s bonus seconds nudge him closer overall to race leader Giulio Pellizzari, while Thymen Arensman remains firmly in the mix.<\/p>\n Stage 4 of the Tour of the Alps is, well, another hilly day. Multiple major climbs sprinkle the 167.8 km route from Arco to Trento.<\/p>\n