Dauge disappointed but McDonald looking ahead after mammoth stage in Greece

Today’s mammoth third stage of the Tour of Hellas shook up the overall standings as expected, bringing the climbers firmly to the fore as Team Novo Nordisk’s experienced Frenchman Lucas Dauge crossed the line alongside teammates Bailey McDonald and Lucas Terrier.

The queen stage ran 207km from Volos to Lamia, with over 142km of the route spent on gradients above two percent  and a brutal 4,216 metres of total elevation gain — by far the hardest day of the race.

The start was attack-filled and wet, with numerous failed breakaway attempts before a quartet eventually slipped away as the peloton began to splinter on the early climbs. That move proved short-lived, and soon only one rider remained out front until the 50km-to-go mark, when the race exploded on the final climb and the favourites began to fight it out all the way to the line in Lamia.

“I’m actually quite disappointed with how it turned out today,” said Dauge. “We were straight into the action at the start of the stage despite the cold and wet — the mountains are my terrain, I felt pretty good and was with the main group. Then deeper into the stage I went low and dropped. It’s frustrating, but it happens sometimes. I need to focus on recovery for tomorrow now.”

Dauge had young Australian McDonald with him for company along with neo-pro Terrier, and both rode solidly through an unrelenting day in the saddle.

 “It was a crazy hard day — by far the craziest stage I have ridden in a bike race,” said McDonald. “Full gas from the beginning with what seemed like never-ending smaller climbs in between three major climbs — literally never ending. One of those days you are proud to see the finish line.”

McDonald, who has been managing the after-effects of a crash on stage one, was nevertheless upbeat looking ahead. “I’ve been pretty sore the last couple of days since the crash, but the body is on the up,” he said. “I’m looking forward to chasing a breakaway in the next two days, which have the parcours that should pose some more favourable opportunities.”

Stage four tomorrow runs 181km from Atalanti to Parnitha with 2,815 metres of climbing  — another demanding day, but one that could offer the team a chance to animate the race from the front.