How our Aussies advanced and fared on stage 3

Hear from the Aussies who were major players in the third stage of the 2017 Tour de France.

Australia's Adam Hansen (Lotto Soudal) sniffed out the breakaway on stage 3 of the 2017 Tour de France (Getty) Source: Getty

Jay McCarthy - that winning feeling

While Sagan said he especially had to thank his Tour debutant brother Juraj for all his hard work up the front to catch the breakaway, it was hard not to notice Jay McCarthy's contribution heading into the final climb.

"In the end we all did the best job to try and get him in a good posiiton coming into the last climb, it was awesome," said the Queenslander, also on Tour de France debut. 

"He's definitely confident, but he's also difficult to read as he stays relaxed all the time and it's just like any other day for Peter.

"It's pretty awesome to be in the same team as him," McCarthy said. "He stays so cool and collected. We all know what we need to do and Peter definitely knows.

"Juraj's shown in he past he can do a really good job for the team, I've had it for myself and I'm sure it's extra special for Peter.

"I love Peter so I'm sure his brother's pretty happy." 

Michael Matthews - almost that winning feeling

But for bad positioning and another few metres of road, Matthews would probably be celebrating victory right now. 

"I wasn’t very well positioned going into the climb unfortunately so had to make up a lot of ground going into the sprint.

"Simon did a really good job to try and close the gap but he couldn’t quite close it so I had to close the gap to the guys in the front and still sprint after that. I think I had to work a little harder than I’d have liked to."

While the Canberran was disappointed in barely missing out on victory, it's hard on evidence not to believe he's quietly confident.  

"The legs are good. And the team is really good to support me we have to have big confidence after this stage."

He responded with a "I think we’ll just take it day by day," interview cliche when asked whether he could challenge Sagan for the green jersey, but he sits just six points behind the world champion in the green jersey competition through consistent placings in the last two bunch finales and intermediate sprints.

Always in front, Peter Sagan (BOH) proved (again) he had the power to hold off any rival despite unclipping 200m from the finish.#TDFdata pic.twitter.com/FcB4lCFj5X — letourdata (@letourdata) July 3, 2017

Adam Hansen - 18th grand tour in a row, but he will be feeling it

The Queenslander with a gift of sniffing out a breakaway ignited the action from the gun on stage 3. 

Out the front in a group of six until about 40 kilometres to go, Hansen said the going was tough but he had to get going. 

"You never know. There’s always one per cent who can make it to the finish so it’s better to be in it than sitting back and do nothing. So why not. Have a go.

"Today they just dangled us at the front and it was headwind most of the way. There was no rest. It was a tough day. I definitely feel it in my legs and I’ll feel it tomorrow for sure."

The 36-year-old explained what happened after team mate Thomas De Gendt jumped across to the leaders.

"At that moment it looked pretty good. I was pretty excited about it but then it just split and then I was just in the wrong place.

"Thomas went away with three guys and one guy jumped across and I was stuck with two guys and I couldn’t jump and my sport diredctor said no because I couldn’t take anyone with me unless I went solo so then I tried but then it was no chance."