PARIS – Australian Ben O’Connor scored a double blow by winning solo at La Molina station and taking on the leader’s jersey after the third stage of the Tour of Catalonia on Wednesday.

The AG2R-Citroën rider broke company with the peloton 8 km from the top and was able to take advantage of a marking of the favorites to raise his arms for the first time since his victory in Tignes last year during the 9th stage of the Tour de France.

Favorite to win the event, Briton Simon Yates got up 7 kilometers from the finish and finished 10 min 17 sec from the winner while his team had rolled part of the final climb.

This stage between Perpignan and the Spanish ski resort of La Molina, 161.1 kilometers long, was hit by many abandonments including that of the Dutchman Tom Dumoulin (Jumbo).

Thursday, the fourth stage is the most mountainous of the week with 166.5 kilometers between La Seu d’Urgell and the ski resort of Boi Taüll, with three first category climbs. The finish is located at just over 2,000 meters above sea level.

Ranking of the 3rd stage :

1. Ben O’Connor (AUS / AG2) the 161.1 km in 4 h 12:51.

(average: 38.4 km/h)

2. Juan Ayuso (ESP/UAE) at 6.

3. Nairo Quintana (COL/ARK) 6.

4. Sergio Higuita (COL/BOR) 6.

5. João Almeida (POR/UAE) 6.

6. Wouter Poels (NED/BAH) 6.

7. Giulio Ciccone (ITA/TRE) 6.

8. Tobias Johannessen (NOR/UXT) 6.

9. Guillaume Martin (FRA/COF) 6.

10. Damien Howson (AUS/BIK) 9.

…

12. Richard Carapaz (ECU/INE) 9.

18. Alejandro Valverde (ESP/MOV) 9.

90. Simon Yates (GBR/BIK) 10:17.

118. Pavel Sivakov (FRA/INE) 12:14.

General classification :

1. Ben O’Connor (AUS/AG2R Citroën) 12:24:20.

2. Juan Ayuso (ESP/UAE) at 10.

3. Nairo Quintana (COL/ARK) 12.

4. Sergio Higuita (COL/BOR) 16.

5. Giulio Ciccone (ITA/TRE) 16.

6. Tobias Johannessen (NOR/UXT) 16.

7. Wouter Poels (NED/BAH) 16.

8. Guillaume Martin (FRA/COF) 16.

9. João Almeida (POR/UAE) 16.

10. Steven Kruijswijk (NED/JUM) 19.

…

13. Richard Carapaz (ECU/INE) 19.

16. Alejandro Valverde (ESP/MOV) 19.

67. Simon Yates (GBR/BIK) 11:20.

75. Pavel Sivakov (FRA/INE) 12:24.