Slagter wins first stage of his career at Tour Down Under

Sapa-AP | 24 January, 2013 10:180 Comments

Image by: Alessandro Garofalo / REUTERS

Tom-Jelte Slagter of the Netherlands claimed the first stage win of his professional career when he won 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 on Wednesday’s third stage.

His stage win 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 139-kilometre (87-mile) stage between Unley and Stirling and world road racing champion Philippe Gilbert was third.