Italian Nicola Ruffoni was named winner of the third stage of the tour which was held yesterday from Imotski to Zadar.
Fierce bura winds and many falls marked stage three of Tour of Croatia, which was the longest leg of the race. Cyclists pedaled 237 kilometers from Imotski to Zadar, and it would be fair to say that bad luck struck day three of the competition, reports Dalmacija News on April 20, 2017.
Croatian winner of stage two, Kristijan Đurasek, fell at Pakoštane about 45 kilometers before the finish. Luckily, Đurasek managed to finish the stage in 112th place, two minutes and 32 seconds behind Ruffoni. After three stages, Đurasek is currently placed 34th in the overall rankings.
It was a particularly difficult day for the UAE Team Emirates as Sacha Modolo, a favorite to win stage three, fell as well. A specialist in sprinting who was hoping to go for his second win in three days, Modolo struck a curb in a narrow alley in Zadar. Although the situation looked dramatic, Modolo was able to get back on his bike and take it through the finish line.
The winner of stage three, Nicola Ruffoni from Bardiani CSF, finished in 5 hours, 55 minutes, and 27 seconds.
Today, the fourth stage of the race continues from Crikvenica to Umag for 171 kilometers of cycling.
