Laurence Pithie continues his golden moment without pause. With another perfect sprint, the New Zealand rider from Red Bull BORA hansgrohe, already victorious two days ago in Rogaška Slatina and second yesterday in Ormož, also claimed the third stage of the Tour of Slovenia 2026 (the Maribor-Celje route of 133.5 kilometers), securing his sixth victory in the last 33 days.

Behind him, nothing could stand against the explosiveness of the young Oceanic rider Ivan Cobo (Equipo Kern Pharma) and Davide Oldani (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) who, attempting to oppose the winning surge of the victor of the last 4 Jours de Dunkerque, concluded in second and third position respectively.

Slightly further back, instead, Alessio Martinelli (Bardiani CSF 7 Saber), Lorenzo Masciarelli (MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort) and Edoardo Zambanini (Bahrain - Victorious) further colored the top ten with Italian blue, concluding their efforts in tenth, eighth and fourth position respectively.

THE RACE

Breaking away from the group after about fifteen kilometers from the start in Maribor, Paul Wright (Modern Adventure Pro Cycling) and Erik Fetter (Team United Shipping) animated the day's long breakaway together with Marcel Gladek (Factor Racing), who joined the two just before the 100 km to finish mark.

Kept under control by the group constantly pulled by Red Bull BORA hansgrohe, the breakaway riders collected points at the two intermediate sprints of the day and at the 2nd category climb of Planina na Pohorju before being caught at the entrance to the Celjska koča climb (7.8 km at 6.1% average gradient) where first Fetter and Gladek and then a combative Wright were reabsorbed by the peloton.

Back together 33 kilometers from the finish, the latter was therefore put to the test by the team of the green jersey wearer Laurence Pithie who, through the superb work of Tratnik and Cattaneo, caused several riders to lose contact. In the subsequent descent, despite the strong presence of the white and blue team, it was Unai Iribar (Equipo Kern Pharma) who attempted to shake things up, launching a courageous attack and remaining in the lead alone until 15 kilometers from the finish when the reabsorption by the group (composed of 41 riders) set the stage for the third sprint in as many days of racing.

To win it, after the acceleration in the final kilometer attempted by Mattia Cattaneo following a gap created by his teammates, was once again Pithie who, imposing himself this time ahead of Cobo and Oldani, achieved a double that allowed him to strengthen his leadership in the general classification on the eve of the queen stage with finish in Kranjska Gora where, presumably, the standings will take on a completely different appearance.

FINISHING ORDER

1. Laurence Pithie (Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe) 3:27:20

2. Iván Cobo (Equipo Kern Pharma) s.t.

3. Stefano Oldani (Caja Rural - Seguros RGA) s.t.

4. Edoardo Zambanini (Bahrain - Victorious) s.t.

5. Xabier Berasategi (Euskaltel - Euskadi) s.t.

6. Ben Oliver (Modern Adventure Pro Cycling) s.t.

7. Hugo de la Calle (Burgos Burpellet BH) s.t.

8. Lorenzo Masciarelli (Equipo Kern Pharma) s.t.

9. Mats Wenzel (MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort) s.t.

10. Alessio Martinelli (Bardiani CSF 7 Saber) s.t.

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION

1. Laurence Pithie (Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe) - 11:01:53

2. Iván Cobo (Equipo Kern Pharma) at 0:20

3. Edoardo Zambanini (Bahrain - Victorious) at 0:22

4. Stefano Oldani (Caja Rural - Seguros RGA) at 0:22

5. Tomáš Přidal (Team United Shipping) at 0:22

6. Lorenzo Masciarelli (Euskaltel - Euskadi) at 0:26

7. Xabier Berasategi (MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort) at 0:26

8. Mats Wenzel (Equipo Kern Pharma) at 0:26

9. Gotzon Martín (Euskaltel - Euskadi) at 0:26

10. Alessandro Fancellu (MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort) at 0:26

OTHER CLASSIFICATIONS

Points classification: Laurence Pithie (Red Bull BORA hansgrohe)

Mountain classification: Samuel Fernandez (Caja Rural - Seguros RGA)

Best young rider classification: Tomáš Přidal (Team United Shipping)