Another winning breakaway at #TotA: Kämna surprises in Niederdorf/Villabassa

The Tour of the Alps continued under the guise of show, surprises, and racers who are anything but predictable. Whoever thought that the third stage – 154.6 km from Lana to Niederdorf/Villabassa, which took place entirely in South Tyrol, was a sealed deal between the big names in the GC was proven wrong.

On Wednesday, April 20, the Tour of the Alps saw a day of long-distance attacks and twists and turns, with another youngster who found his day of grace on the roads of the Tirolo-Alto Adige-Trentino Euroregion.

Anyone who follows cycling knows the talent of Lennard Kämna. The 25-year-old German racer from Bora-Hansgrohe is capable of long rides and sometimes winning, like today and like in 2020 at the Tour de France. He doesn't fear long climbs even though he finds his ideal hunting ground in the flats.

After several unsuccessful attempts in the early part of the race, Kämna launched a drawn-out attack at km 62. He rode defensively on the difficult climb toward Furkelpass/Passo Furcia, before showing off his skills as pursuer and time trialist on terrain more suitable to him near the final kilometre. Andrey Amador's (INEOS-Grenadiers) chase proved futile; the Costa Rican had to be content with second place ahead of Spanish racer, Jonathan Lastra (Caja-Rural).

The favourites for final victory have deferred to tomorrow and its uphill finish in Kals am Grossglockner, in Tirol. The green jersey still belongs to Pello Bilbao (Bahrain-Victorious), but rivals are close by: Bardet at 6", Valter at 12", Gall, Sivakov, Chaves, and Porte at 16", and Landa at 20". The games at the 2022 Tour of the Alps are anything but over. The rugged Osttirol has yet to hand down the final verdicts in this Euroregional stage race.

AT THE TOUR OF THE ALPS, THE WINNER IS THE ONE WHO DARES

Lennard Kämna showed that he wanted to be in the day’s breakaway at any cost. He first tried at km 18 and then again at km 48, but it was his third attempt at km 63 where he succeeded in the company of Pronskiy (Astana), Amador (INEOS-Grenadiers), Ghebremedhin (EF Education-Easypost), Piccoli (Israel-PremierTech), Barta and Rojas (Movistar), Hamilton (DSM), Lastra (Caja Rural-RGA), Tesfatsion (Drone Hopper-Androni), Iribar (Euskaltel-Euskadi), and Traeen (Uno-X).

The 12 men at the front of the race forged a maximum lead of 3'53" at km 110. The men of Bahrain-Victorious controlled the situation at the front and gained precious seconds as they approached the entrance to the Furkelpass/Passo Furcia, the day’s most feared climb.

Pronskiy and Traeen rode alone at the top of the Furkelpass/Furcia while the only one among the favourites who tried to bridge up with conviction was Pavel Sivakov (INEOS Grenadiers), who was able to select the group but unable to make a decisive break.

The Furkelpass/Furcia descent cost the Norwegian racer, Traeen, who was the victim of a fall, any chance at victory while behind Pronskiy, the pursuers organized the chase and managed to get back to the head of the race.

In a very uncertain final, Kämna was the quickest to seize the moment with a decisive action to clinch a beautiful stage victory at the Tour of the Alps.

Only one change occurred among the #TotA2022 leaders: Thymen Arensman (Team DSM) is the new leader of the white Würth-Modyf jersey for the best young rider. The other leaders stand as follows: Pello Bilbao, green Melinda jersey; Pavel Sivakov blue Gruppo Cassa Centrale jersey for best climber; and Miguel Angel Lopez – who was brilliant today among the group of favourites – will wear the red PMG Sport jersey for the best sprinter.

KAMNA: "I DIDN'T EXPECT TO WIN HERE".

"I tried to insert myself into the day's breakaway from the very first kilometres and in the end, my efforts paid off," said Lennard Kämna. "I knew there would be opportunities for breakaways this week, but I didn't expect to win here."

"On the climbs I'm not on the level of the best in this race – yesterday I lost some time, and that gave me the opportunity to have more space today. I didn't plan it, but it went well."

Maintenance day for Pello Bilbao and his Bahrain-Victorious team: "Today was an overall easier day than yesterday, we didn't have to pull hard from the first kilometre, and I have a very strong team I can count on.

"Tomorrow we have an uphill finish ahead of us, but I think Friday's stage, which is short and has short, hard climbs will be the last real hurdle to try and bring home the green jersey."

TOMORROW THE UPHILL FINISH: FROM VILLABASSA TO KALS AM GROSSGLOCKNER

On Thursday, April 21, the Tour of the Alps reaches Osttirol for the fourth stage stretching 142.4 km from Niederdorf/Villabassa (South Tyrol) to Kals am Grossglockner (Tyrol), in the shadow of Austria's highest mountain.

After crossing the Italian-Austrian border, the athletes enter Osttirol before turning toward the GPM of Kartischer Sattel. At that point, the race travels along the Gaital, leaving the Tyrol to briefly cross into Carinthia, before reaching the town of Kötschach.

At that point, the race tackles the gentler slopes of the Gailberg Sattel, the second GPM of the day. Once back in the Tyrol and in Lienz, the route climbs the hills surrounding the city toward the flying finish located near the Zettersfeld cable car station.

The showdown is on the 12.5 km of the final climb to Kals am Groβglockner. The first three km are the most challenging at 9%, followed by a flat stretch of about 4 km, then another 3 km at around 6% that end at about 2.5 km from the finish line positioned at the end of a flat stretch.

THE TOUR OF THE ALPS ON TV

Tomorrow, Thursday, the Tour of the Alps will be live starting at 2:00 p.m. CEST on RaiSport, Eurosport 1, L'Equipe Tv (France), and TV2 (Denmark).