"This result is good for my confidence" - Dan McLay an impressive third on stage 3 of the Tour Down Under

With stage 3 of the 2024 Tour Down Under ending in a bunch sprint finale, Sam Welsford took his second stage win of the race. Impressively completing the podium in third however, was Arkéa - B&B Hotels' Dan McLay.

“The team did a good job of getting to the top of the valley heading down to Campbelltown. It was very twisty and very fast," reflected the 32-year-old Brit in conversation with his team's official website post-stage. "I was on Miles Scotson’s wheel in the final. We were a bit far apart with a kilometre to go but he found an opening on the left and reeled me in."

Having finished 17th in the bunch sprint on stage 1, this was a much improved performance from McLay. Sadly, he couldn't quite cap it off with a victory. "I launched from a little too far back perhaps to be able to compete with the Bora-Hansgrohe train, which is really strong here," he assesses. "This result is good for my confidence."

With stage 4 also expected to end in a sprint however, another chance is quickly on the cards for McLay. "We’ve got one last chance with a sprint finish tomorrow," he previews optimistically. "Then we’ll get down to work for Louis Barré on the last two stages so that he can achieve the best overall classification possible.”