Pidcock returns to his best level and wins the third stage of the Tour of the Alps

Tom Pidcock has signed a highly valuable victory in the third stage of the Tour of the Alps, a triumph that comes at just the right moment to put behind him the fall suffered in the Volta a Catalunya and the bad feelings with which he had started this race.

The Tour of the Alps changes for Pidcock with a decisive victory in stage 3

Pidcock had started the Tour of the Alps on Monday far from his best form, as although he finished second, he admitted that he had one of his worst days on the bike. Two stages later, his performance was completely different on a day marked by accumulated toughness and a very tactical finish.

The route between Latsch and Arco exceeded 3,600 meters of elevation gain, with two long climbs in the first half that selected the race from afar. This was compounded by a chaotic start, with a massive crash that forced the race to be stopped for several minutes and affected the subsequent development.

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The day's breakaway had real options. Sam Oomen and Darren Rafferty established themselves at the front after the first climbs and maintained significant gaps for many kilometers, taking advantage of the initial lack of understanding in the peloton.

However, the final terrain did not favor their gamble. The main group gradually increased the pace and reduced the advantage until they neutralized the breakaway in the decisive stretch, just within the last five kilometers. From there, the race opened up with several moves among the favorites.

Egan Bernal was one of the most active at that moment, trying an attack in the final kilometers, but failing to definitively break the group. Everything was thus set for a sprint finish in a reduced group.

In that scenario, Q36.5 played their cards well. The team managed to place Pidcock in an ideal position in the last kilometer, and the Brit responded with a powerful sprint, leaving no chance for his rivals.

This victory means putting behind complicated weeks marked by the fall in Catalunya and confirms a quick recovery within a race that had started with doubts. Moreover, it serves as revenge against Tommaso Dati, who had already surpassed him in the first stage.

Dati himself finished second again in Arco, while Egan Bernal completed the podium and continues to close in on the general classification thanks to the bonus seconds.

Stage 3 Results Tour of the Alps 2026

1. Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team)
2. Tommaso Dati (Team Ukyo)
3. Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers)
4. Luca Paletti (Bardiani CSF)
5. Aleksandr Vlasov (Red Bull Bora hansgrohe)
6. Sean Quinn (EF Education EasyPost)
7. Chris Hamilton (Team Picnic PostNL)
8. Jakob Omrzel (Bahrain Victorious)
9. Florian Stork (Tudor Pro Cycling Team)
10. Ben O’Connor (Team Jayco AlUla)