ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) — Tom-Jelte Slagter of the Netherlands earned his first professional stage win when he topped the third stage of the Tour Down Under on Thursday, while Britain’s Geraint Thomas retained the overall race lead.
Slagter, of the Blanco Pro Cycling team, finished fourth in Wednesday’s third stage.
His stage victory carried a 10-second time bonus which allowed him to close the gap on Thomas to less than five seconds at the midpoint of the six-stage race.
Australia’s Matthew Goss was second on the 87-mile stage between Unley and Stirling, and world road racing champion Philippe Gilbert was third.
