“It was quite a tough day...” – Giulio Pellizzari survives Tour of the Alps test with leader’s jersey intact despite loss of key domestique to crash

Giulio Pellizzari held firm on a chaotic Stage 3 of the Tour of the Alps, keeping control of the general classification despite a crash-hit day that saw the Italian lose a key domestique and face sustained pressure from his rivals.

The Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe leader finished safely in the reduced front group as Tom Pidcock sprinted to stage victory, ensuring that the overall standings remained tightly packed heading into the final two days.

The stage was thrown into disarray almost immediately after the start, with a major crash involving around 30 riders forcing a neutralisation and reshaping the race before the climbing had even begun.

Among those forced to abandon was Lorenzo Finn, a significant blow for Pellizzari and Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe. Finn had started the day sixth overall and second in the youth classification, and his loss removed an important climbing support rider at a crucial point in the race. “It was quite a tough day, a hard start unfortunately,” Pellizzari said afterwards to Cycling Pro Net. “We lost a team-mate, Lorenzo Finn, who had to abandon. We hope it’s nothing serious. Now we look ahead to tomorrow and focus on the positives.”

Despite that setback, Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe once again moved to the front of the peloton and set the tempo on the opening climb, continuing the approach that had delivered victory on Stage 2.

A strong breakaway featuring Sam Oomen and Darren Rafferty forced the pace behind, with the pair building an advantage of close to two minutes and holding firm deep into the stage. As the kilometres ticked down, however, the peloton gradually increased the pressure, reducing the gap and setting up a tense finale.

The break was finally caught inside the final five kilometres, at which point the race shifted sharply back towards the general classification contenders. Attacks from Egan Bernal and Ben O'Connor stretched the group, but no decisive move was able to stick.

In the end, Pellizzari crossed the line safely among the main contenders, preserving his narrow advantage in the general classification after taking the race lead with victory on Stage 2.

While the time gaps remained minimal, the Italian’s ability to navigate a stage marked by crashes, relentless climbing and late attacks underlined both his composure and the strength of his position in the race. “Hopefully he recovers quickly,” Pellizzari added, speaking about Finn. “I don’t know exactly what the issue is yet, but he’s already shown how strong he is. I’m sure he’ll come back even stronger.”