Swiss champion Mauro Schmid has moved into the overall race lead at the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali after another impressive sprint to second place.
The 26-year-old moves to the top of the general classification after three stages thanks to the bonus seconds on the finish line and now leads overall by two seconds.
Team Jayco AlUla once again took on the pace making duties behind an early breakaway of seven riders on day three. The one and only categorised climb of the day eventually spelled the end for the escapees, with the overall race leader also dropped under the strong tempo set by the Australian squad.
Despite some attempts from Schmid and Alessandro Covi to give the reduced peloton the slip on the run into the finish, the stage came down to another fast finish. Schmid once again showed his versatility as he narrowly missed out on a third victory of the season in a tight sprint contest.
With the bonus second on the line, the former race winner moved himself to the top of the GC standings with two stages remaining.
Mauro Schmid
“I think we expected a bit of a harder climb today, but in the end, there wasn’t really a big selection. We tried to play our cards in the last 10km and I attacked a few times. Alessandro did a great move with 2km to go, and we were blocking a little bit. Then because I was riding a lot on the front, I found myself in a really good position around the last corner and I could sprint for the stage.
But I couldn’t really go anymore, the first time I looked up it was 150 metres to go, and I didn’t have any more. It’s a good situation for the general classification now and I’m quite happy with where I’m at with two stages to go.”
Steve Cummings (Sport Director):
“It’s a bit frustrating to get second again, but everyone in the team was very good today, they all did their work, Filippo Conca was very strong, he chased down the breakaway by himself.
Nobody really helped us, INEOS did a little bit, but not too much, so in the end I think we deserved to take the jersey. Mauro was super, Covi was good, Davide De Pretto was good, Alan Hatherly was also going well, Adam Rafferty did a big pull on the climb, everybody was good!
The boys are happy and now we have to try to defend the jersey and try and win a stage before Sunday.”
2026 Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali – Stage 3 Results:
1. Tommaso Dati 3:54:14
2. Mauro Schmid (Team Jayco AlUla) ST
3. Diego Ulissi ST
2026 Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali – GC:
1. Mauro Schmid (Team Jayco AlUla) ST
2. Tommaso Dati +0:02
3. Axel Laurance ST
Photos: Sprint Cycling
