Alex Howes wins Stage 3 at Tour of Alberta

Alex Howes jumped from the field with about 300 metres to go and held off a chasing pack to win Stage 3 of the Tour of Alberta on Sunday.

The American outdistanced second-place finisher and teammate Wouter Wippert of the Netherlands. Wippert had won Stage 2 on Saturday.

READ MORE: Dutchman Wouter Wippert wins Stage 2 of Tour of Alberta 

“I jumped coming to the top of the final climb (up out of the River Valley) and was trying to lead out Wouter because I think he’s the top sprinter in the race,” Howes said.

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“When I got a gap, he yelled to go for it so I kept going and held on.”

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Howes had won a stage during the Colorado Classic in August and accelerates at shorter climbs. That skill helped him entering the final kilometre.

WATCH LIVE: Tour of Alberta 2017 on Global News

American Evan Huffman finished with the group and retained his overall lead by 18 seconds over teammate Sepp Kuss. Howes moved up to a tie in third place with teammate Tom-Jelte Slagter of the Netherlands, at 31 seconds behind.

Jack Burke of Squamish, B.C., is the top Canadian and sixth overall. The 22-year-old is 35 seconds back of Huffman.

The Tour of Alberta finishes on Monday with a 123-kilometre circuit race through Centre City that starts and finishes at Churchill Square.