Pozzovivo wins stage 3 in Slovenia

Domenico Pozzovivo (Colnago-CSF) scored victory on the toughest stage of the Tour of Slovenia to move into the overall lead, while local favourite Janez Brajkovic (Astana) is in striking distance to take it off him in Sunday’s final time trial.

Pozzovivo, fresh from an impressive Giro d’Italia, joined Brajkovic in taking flight on the final climb of Soriška Planina and the pair set a relentless rhythm from the base of the climb that no-one else could match. With 35km to go, the pair shed themselves of the rest of the leading group and they had a 24-second lead by the summit of the first category climb.

They continued to stretch out their advantage on the run-in to the finish, and they reached the line with 1:53 in hand over Kristjan Koren and Daniele Ratto (Liquigas-Cannondale). The diminutive Pozzovivo eased across the line in front of Brajkovic in the two-up sprint, and the Italian leads Brajkovic by four seconds ahead of Sunday’s final time trial.

“After the second ascent to Soriska, I noticed the others were weakening so I started to dictate the pace and when Pozzovivo came with me, we continued to the end,” Brajkovic said afterwards.

“It was very difficult for me because the last climb was 40km from the finish,” said Pozzovivo. “I worked with Jani and we made it to the finish. I got the win here, but tomorrow in the time trial, I won’t have much of a chance against him.”

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