Chris Lawless sprints to first individual pro victory at Settimana Coppi e Bartali stage three
The 22-year-old takes advantage of a split in the bunch on stage three of the Italian race

Chris Lawless at the 2018 Tour Down Under (Sunada)

Team Sky's Chris Lawless took his first professional win on Saturday at the Settimana Coppi e Bartali, sprinting ahead of Paolo Toto (Sangemini-MG.Kvis) and Lorenzo Rota (Bardiani-CSF) from a reduced field.
The 171km course looked ideal for the 22-year-old to try his luck at giving Sky their second victory of the race, having taken victory on the stage 1b team time trial, with a pan flat circuit to Crevalcore in store for the riders.
A split in the field towards the finish of the race saw a reduced bunch move ahead, and Lawless was able to despatch the other fast men in that group to bring home the victory.
His team-mate Diego Rosa maintains the overall lead of the race with a final time trial on Sunday, having finished second to Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) on the uphill finish of stage two. Italian Rosa and Mollema were able to finish safely in the front group with Rosa maintaining the overall lead by seven seconds.
Earlier in the stage a seven man breakaway group, containing Remy Di Gregorio (Delko Marseille), Michal Paluta (CCC), Dimitri Peyskens (WB Aqua Protect), Peter Williams (One Pro Cycling), Christofer Jurado (Trevigiani), Marco Coledan and Jacopo Mosca (Wilier Triestina - Selle Italia), got up the road and took a maximum advantage of 2-30.
Team Sky did much of the pace making to keep the breakers in touch, reeling them in with around 35km to go before the main field split.
The 2018 Settimana Coppi e Bartali will conclude on Sunday with a short and flat 12.5km time trial from Fiorano Modenese to Montegibbio.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Result
Settimana Coppi e Bartali 2018, stage three: Crevalcore - Crevalcore (171k)
1 Christopher Lawless (GBr) Team Sky, in 3-47-53
2 Paolo Toto (Ita) Sangemini-MG.Kvis
3 Lorenzo Rota (Ita) Bardiani CSF
4 Emils Liepins (Lat) One Pro Cycling
5 Richard Carapaz (Ecu) Movistar Team
6 Mauro Finetto (Ita) Delko Marseille Provence KTM
7 Fabio Felline (Ita) Trek-Segafredo
8 Alex Turrin (Ita) Wilier Triestina-Selle Italia
9 Nicola Bagioli (Ita) Nippo-Vini Fantini-Europa Ovini
10 Diego Rosa (Ita) Team Sky, all same time
General classification after stage three
1 Diego Rosa (Ita) Team Sky, in 9-52-46
2 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo, at 7s
3. Richard Carapaz (Ecu) Movistar, at 38s
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Follow on Twitter: @richwindy
Richard is digital editor of Cycling Weekly. Joining the team in 2013, Richard became editor of the website in 2014 and coordinates site content and strategy, leading the news team in coverage of the world's biggest races and working with the tech editor to deliver comprehensive buying guides, reviews, and the latest product news.
An occasional racer, Richard spends most of his time preparing for long-distance touring rides these days, or getting out to the Surrey Hills on the weekend on his Specialized Tarmac SL6 (with an obligatory pub stop of course).
-
Mike's Bikes 'mega sale' is live and site wide with discounts over 50%
Running until Sunday all products are discounted including complete bikes, clothing, smart trainers and much more
By Luke Friend
-
Can you be a pro athlete and an environmentalist? Earth Day reflections from a pro cyclist trying to be both
How Sarah Sturm reconciles her life as a pro cyclist with her environmental values
By Sarah Sturm
-
'It can really push me along' - How a velodrome comeback is making Caleb Ewan faster on the road
Australian says he'll "definitely" continue track work after rekindling passion
By Tom Davidson
-
Could Caleb Ewan be Ineos Grenadiers' first Tour de France sprinter since Mark Cavendish? 'That's my goal'
"All I can do is try to win as much as possible and prove that I deserve to be there," says Australian
By Tom Davidson
-
'An unprecedented opportunity for brands to be part of the evolution' - Ineos Grenadiers sponsor hunt steps up with sales agency partnership
Sportfive have been employed to find "non-endemic global partners for the team"
By Adam Becket
-
'We've all got a little bit extra in us this year' - Ineos Grenadiers recapture 'fighting spirit' with aggressive Paris-Nice display
British team continue to put tumultuous 2024 behind them with momentum and a new found mentality
By Tom Thewlis
-
Could a TotalEnergies deal be the end of Ineos Grenadiers as we know them?
Reports suggested this week that Ineos could be close to signing a deal with the French petrochemical firm
By Tom Thewlis
-
'They’re racing with their hearts again' - Robbie McEwen on Ineos Grenadiers' bright start to 2025
The British squad have already won four times in 2025
By Tom Thewlis
-
Ineos Grenadiers are entertaining so far this year, but how long will it last?
The British WorldTour squad have won four times already in 2025, but more than that, they have been fun. Is this the new dawn?
By Adam Becket
-
Caleb Ewan says he was put in a 'bad situation' by Jayco AlUla before he joined Ineos Grenadiers
Ewan joined Ineos Grenadiers in January after spending just one year with Jayco AlUla
By Tom Thewlis