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Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka's Nicholas Dlamini again claimed maximum King of the Mountain points on a day when Elia Viviani (Quickstep-Floors) sprinted to victory in the Tour Down Under. The Italian pipped Phil Bauhaus (Team Sunweb) to line honours on Stage 3 in Victor Harbor, while Caleb Ewan (Mitchelton-Scott) finished third and retained the overall race lead heading into Friday's 4th stage. Earlier, in carbon copy of the first two stages, Dlamini again forced the breakaway and once again had Scott Bowden (UniSA) for company. Dlamini set off in pursuit of the King of the Mountain points on offer at the top of Pennys Hill, and after Bowden made the first play for them Africa's Team's rising star reeled him in before kicking clear. With his goal achieved, and the scorching heat reducing the stage from 146km to 120km, Dlamini returned back to the peloton by mid-stage leaving Bowden to soldier on... until the Australian was caught with 13km to go. Ewan's Mitchelton-Scott, with South African Daryl Impey grafting hard, lead the charge for the line in the closing stages. In fact, Impey and co. set Ewan up so well that he had a moment of panic thinking he was too far out to maintain his sprint. That misjudgement opened the door for Viviani and Bauhaus, which they gleefully accepted -- particularly the Italian in making it three different winners in three stages. Tomorrow the Tour Down Under heads into the Adelaide hills and takes the riders up Norton Summit which is where the overall classification is likely to be shaken up - at the expense of the sprinters currently leading the standings. Despite Dlamini again being in polka dot jersey, Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka are expected to rally around Tom-Jelte Slagter for the tough finishing climb. The 128km-long stage will also be a good guide as to who will shine on Saturday's Queen Stage which will finish on the infamous Willunga Hill, south of Adelaide.
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