The penultimate stage of the Women’s Tour Down Under cemented a lead for Orica-AIS who leapfrogged Wiggle High5 in the team standings whilst Lizzie Williams won the stage and Katrin Garfoot maintained the leader’s jersey.
The 100km race was made up of four 25k laps which each featured a steep ascent of the Whispering Wall. On the penultimate lap, Orica-AIS rider Amanda Spratt made a break, to be chased by Dani King (Wiggle High5), Lauren Kitchen (Hitec Products) Shelly Olds (Clyance Cycling) and Tiffany Cromwell (Canyon//SRAM) whilst Orica-AIS team mates Williams and Garfoot sat in the break.
The tactic was beautifully engineered by the Australian team – the group eventually overtook Spratt on the final climb before the finish, leaving Williams to make her move. She eventually kicked up a 19 second advantage giving her a solo win.
Behind her, Garfoot managed to sprint amongst the chasers to take second, meaning she retained her blue leader’s jersey and the team moved into first place overall in the standings.
The top ten of stage three was as follows:
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | |
| 1 | Lizzie Williams (Orica-AIS) | 2:45:17 | |
| 2 | Katrin Garfoot (Orica-AIS) | 0:00:19 | |
| 3 | Lauren Kitchen (HiTec Products) | ||
| 4 | Shelley Olds (Cylance Pro Cycling) | ||
| 5 | Danielle King (Wiggle High5) | ||
| 6 | Tiffany Cromwell (SASI) | 0:00:24 | |
| 7 | Amanda Spratt (Orica-AIS) | 0:00:40 | |
| 8 | Kimberley Wells (High5 Dream Team) | 0:04:28 | |
| 9 | Julie Leth (HiTec Products) | ||
| 10 | Jessica Huston (Nicheliving Vault) | ||
The top five on GC are all pretty close, and there’s just one stage to go – a one hour criterium over 1.2km laps in Victoria Park. Can Garfoot hold on to that jersey?
| 1 | Katrin Garfoot (Orica-AIS) | 5:49:06 | |
| 2 | Lauren Kitchen (HiTec Products) | ||
| 3 | Shelley Olds (Cylance Pro Cycling) | ||
| 4 | Danielle King (Wiggle High5) | ||
| 5 | Tiffany Cromwell (SASI) | 0:00:14 |
