Australian Michael Storer has continued his excellent start to the European cycling season as he protected his lead in the Tour of the Alps and homed in on the biggest triumph of his career.
But while the Tudor Pro Cycling ace held on to his 41-second lead in the five-day tour in Austria and Italy after a tough third stage on Wednesday, another Australian star Jai Hindley still looked a threat to his compatriot in fourth place.
Storer had made his mark in Tuesday's mountainous second stage, soloing into Mezzolombardo after attacking 11km from home on the final climb and opening up his unexpected big lead over the field.
