Michael Matthews wins 3rd stage in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Michael Matthews won the third stage of the Tour of Utah on Thursday, and Christian Vandevelde retained the overall lead.

Matthews broke away from the pack twice, emerging first from the peloton in the final sprint over the last six miles. He finished the 85.7-mile stage from Ogden that featured 8,542 feet of vertical climbs in 3 hours, 24 minutes, 7 seconds.

Swiss rider Michael Schar was second, and Brent Bookwalter finished third for the second time in three days.

Vandevelde has a cumulative time of 9:12.23. Thomas Danielson was second, and David Zabriskie third — both with the same time as Vandevelde.

Matthews broke away from the peloton early, and stayed ahead for much of the stage before fading on the final climb. He recovered enough, however, to work his way back to the front of the pack.

Once he had an outside position near the front, Matthews made a charge on the final descent into Salt Lake City and barely beat Schar and Bookwalter across the finish line.

The fourth stage Friday is a 134.2-mile leg from Lehi to Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City.