Alaphillipe wins Tour of California Queen Stage up Gibraltar Road

Alaphillipe (Etixx - Quick Step) attacked reminents of the peleton to chase down Peter Stetina (Trek-Segafredo) on the final kilometre of the climb of Gibraltar Road

With 20 miles into the stage from Thousand Oaks to Santa Barbara, 7 riders Huffman (Rally), Neilands (AHB), Clark (HSD), Putt (UHC), Tennant (WGN), Arredondo (TFS), Danil (AHB) went away and built up a gap of 3 minutes 45 seconds.

Cannondale took up the pace in the peleton for Sagan and BMC for Bookwalter.

With 15 miles to go Putt attacked the breakaway taking Tennant and Daniel with him, the rest sat up realising they wouldn't be able to stay away with the gap down to just 2 minutes.

Putt (UHC) increased the pace on the way to the base of Gibraltar road with only Daniel (AHB).

The peleton increased the pace, teams taking their leaders to the front. With 10 miles to Peter Kennaugh (Team Sky) crashed heavily along with Bryan Coquard. Kennaugh abandoned.

Peter Sagan dropped off the peleton, not looking to contest the yellow jersey.

Putt and Daniel started the climb with the Peleton only 1 minute behind.

With 7 miles to go Greg Daniel had 30 seconds lead, as BMC came to the front looking to launch Brent Bookwalter up the climb.

Danilo Wyss, 2 time RAAM winner for BMC took up the pace setting, however Neilson Powless (AHB) went off the front.

Neilson Powless (AHB), only 19 years old the youngest rider and a 2016 Joe Martin Race Stage Winner - increased his cadence and grew a gap to 30 seconds.

Cannondale and BMC were on the front of what was left of the peleton, only 22 riders left.

Andrew Talansky, Cannondale pulled hard on the front with BMC behind.

Lachlan Morton (Jelly Belly), winner of the Tour of Gila, attacked with 4km to go while Stetina (Trek-Segafredo) jumped on his wheel to join Powless.

The gap was 10 seconds, Stetina put in another acceleration and got a 20m gap.

Stetina kept going on the steeper grades and managed to keep going under the 1 km chute. Alaphillipe (Trek-Segafredo) jumped out of the chasing peleton and sprinted under the 1 km banner and caught Stetina with around 400m to go.

Stetina tried to keep on Alaphillipe's wheel but Alaphillipe went again and took the stage ahead of Stetina and Powless.

Stage 3 Results

FRA 1 ALAPHILIPPE, Julian (ETIXX – QUICK STEP) 4:36:59
USA 2 STETINA, Peter (TREK – SEGAFREDO) + 15
NZL 3 BENNETT, George (LOTTO NL – JUMBO) + 25
USA 4 BOOKWALTER, Brent (BMC RACING) + 27
USA 5 POWLESS, Neilson (AXEON HAGENS BERMAN) + 30
NED 6 TEN DAM, Laurens (GIANT – ALPECIN) + 33
AUS 7 MORTON, Lachlan David (JELLY BELLY P/B MAXXIS) + 35
AUS 8 DENNIS, Rohan (BMC RACING) + 48
ESP 9 SANCHEZ GONZALEZ, Samuel (BMC RACING)
USA 10 TALANSKY, Andrew (CANNONDALE) + 59
CAN 11 BRITTON, Rob (RALLY CYCLING)
ESP 12 ZUBELDIA AGIRRE, Haimar (TREK – SEGAFREDO)
USA 13 CRADDOCK, Lawson (CANNONDALE) + 1:02
POR 14 GUERREIRO, Ruben (AXEON HAGENS BERMAN) + 1:18
AUS 15 CLARKE, Jonathan (UNITEDHEALTHCARE) + 1:20

General Classification after Stage 3

FRA 1 ALAPHILIPPE, Julian (ETIXX – QUICK STEP) 12:49:47
USA 2 STETINA, Peter (TREK – SEGAFREDO) + 19
NZL 3 BENNETT, George (LOTTO NL – JUMBO) + 31
USA 4 BOOKWALTER, Brent (BMC RACING) + 37
USA 5 POWLESS, Neilson (AXEON HAGENS BERMAN) + 40
NED 6 TEN DAM, Laurens (GIANT – ALPECIN) + 43
AUS 7 MORTON, Lachlan David (JELLY BELLY P/B MAXXIS) + 45
AUS 8 DENNIS, Rohan (BMC RACING) + 58
ESP 9 SANCHEZ GONZALEZ, Samuel (BMC RACING)
ESP 10 ZUBELDIA AGIRRE, Haimar (TREK – SEGAFREDO) + 1:09