Brandon McNulty (UHC Rally) won the Caltanissetta - Ragusa stage

The 21-year-old American Brandon McNulty (UHC Rally), former junior Time Trial UCI World Champion, won the Caltanissetta – Ragusa stage with a solo attack in the finale. Odd Christian Eiking and Giovanni Visconti completed the day’s podium, with McNulty becoming the new leader of the General Classification. The third stage of Il Giro di Sicilia was animated by the long breakaway of Marco Maronese (Bardiani CSF), William Perez (Coldeportes Strongman), Federico Burchio (D’Amico UM Tools), Simone Sterbini (Giotti Victoria), Niccolò Salvietti (Sangemini Trevigiani) and Jalel Duranti (Team Colpack). Once reabsorbed by the peloton, Androni’s pressure gradually reduced the group with Fausto Masnada going solo at the top of today’s KOM. Once neutralised in the descent, different riders attacked looking to escape what was left of the peloton, before McNulty’s winning move around 10km from the finish line.

STAGE RESULT

1 – Brandon McNulty (Rally UHC Cycling) 188km in 4h42’28”, average speed 39.933kph

2 – Odd Christian Eiking (Wanty – Gobert Cycling Team) at 55″

3 – Giovanni Visconti (Neri Sottoli Selle Italia KTM) at 56″

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION

1 – Brandon McNulty (Rally UHC Cycling)

2 – Odd Christian Eiking (Wanty – Gobert Cycling Team) at 59″

3 – Giovanni Visconti (Neri Sottoli Selle Italia KTM) at 1’02”

JERSEYS

Maglia Rossa e Gialla (red and yellow), general classification leader, sponsored by the Sicilian Region – Brandon McNulty (Rally UHC Cycling)

Maglia Arancione (orange), sprinter classification leader, sponsored by NamedSport – Manuel Belletti (Androni Giocattoli – Sidermec)

Maglia Verde Pistacchio (pistacchio green), King of the Mountains classification leader, sponsored by Cantine Cellaro – Fausto Masnada (Androni Giocattoli – Sidermec)

Maglia Bianca (white), young rider general classification leader, sponsored by the Ufficio Nazionale Israeliano del Turismo – citiesbreak.com – Brandon McNulty (Rally UHC Cycling) – Jersey worn tomorrow by Odd Christian Eiking (Wanty – Gobert Cycling Team)

Quotes from the protagonists

The stage winner and Maglia Rossa e Gialla, Brandon McNulty, said: “Today was a difficult day given the weather conditions but I felt good and I attacked at the right time. I am in good condition and the team has given me a great help… help that I’ll need tomorrow to try to defend the leader’s jersey.”

The Maglia Verde Pistacchio (pistacchio green), Fausto Masnada, said: “The strategy of the team was to attack on the final climb with Cattaneo and myself, unfortunately the climb was too far away from the finish line. Many attacks followed afterwards and unfortunately we did not manage to win. Tomorrow we will try again and do our best.”