Yates overcomes injury to seal third place finish

SIMON Yates bounced back from a knee injury to finish stage three of the Tour Down Under in third place.

The Mitchelton-Scott rider, from Bury, jumped out of the chase group early but was ultimately unable to run down the race leader Richie Porte.

The 27-year-old almost missed the start of the third stage after suffering a knee injury in a multi-rider crash late on stage two.

Porte looked every bit the veteran as he played the stage perfectly to cross the line five seconds in front of the chase group, which was led by fellow Australian Rob Power.

Yates currently sits fourth in general classification at the halfway mark of the race. On the state of his knee, which was bandaged from the start, Yates (pictured) said: “It was a little bit stiff in the morning and it was a good job that we didn’t have a quick start. But once we got into it, it started getting better and better.

“I just did the best I could. I could see Impey was close, so I was half doing a job for him and half for myself. Chapeau to Richie though, he showed again on these short little climbs he is a nudge above. I think Willunga (the final climb on the final stage) suits me more. I don’t think I’ve ever won a three-minute climb before, add a 0 on the end to make it 30 minutes and that is better.” The race is over six stages and finishes in Willunga Hill, near Adelaide, on Sunday.