Consonni on the podium, 3rd in sprint.

Very good performance from the whole UAE Team Emirates (photo Bettini) in the stage three of the Tour of California, which started in Pismo Beach taking riders along 192.5 km towards Morro Bay.
Federico Zurlo raced more than 150 km in the front as part of a five-men breakaway, meanwhile Simone Consonni obtained the 3rd place in the sprint which was won by World Champion Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) ahead of Rick Zabel (Katusha-Alpecin).

“The whole team worked in a perfect way during the stage – sports director Mario Scirea said – Our first goal for the stage was to have at least one of our riders in the breakaway and Zurlo contributed to achieve this target, pedaling in the front group until 15km to the arrival.
The sprint by Consonni was incisive, the third place it’s a very good result for us, considering that he battled against the best sprinters in the world.
We’ll try to achieve further good results in the next stages”.

Simone Consonni: “I’m very satisfied for third place, I want to thank my team because I received a perfect support: with Zurlo in the breakaway, we could pedal in the bunch saving energies, then my other teammates helped me to reach the front position in the bunch at 300m to the arrival, my progression was good.
I want to thank also my sports directors Scirea and Pedrazzini, I’m very happy to receive the confidence form them.”

Stage three results:
1- Peter Sagan (Bora – Hansgrohe) 4:53:26
2- Rick Zabel(Katusha – Alpecin) s.t.
3- Simone Consonni(UAE Team Emirates) s.t.
4- Alexander Kristoff(Katusha – Alpecin) s.t.
5- Jean Drucker(BMC Racing Tram) s.t.

General classification:
1- Rafal Majka (Bora-Hansgrohe) 12:22:43
2- George Bennett(LottoNL-Jumbo) 2”
3- Ian Boswell(Team Sky) 14”
10- Vegard Stake Laengen(UAE Team Emirates) 48”