Filippo Ganna was in the lead group in the finale of the Tirreno-Adriatico stage 3, defending the leader's jersey to the death. But with the Italian race entering the Apennines on Thursday and more climbing ahead, the rider from Ineos Grenadier does not know how long he will be able to use his strength to stay with the best climbers and his closest overall rivals.

Ganna was behind the lead group when he joined an attack by Wout Van Aert (Jumbo Visma) and a number of others who appeared to have misplaced their lines at the roundabout. However, he used his power and chasing skills to jump over the widening gap and join the move.

It looked as if he would shorten his rivals' times, but then a change in wind direction and a headwind made the peloton compact, and it became a sprint contest between Mathieu Van der Pol and Jasper Philipsen, with Alpecin Desseuninck taking his first win of 2023.

"I was in the wrong place, too far back," Ganna admitted after donning the leader's blue jersey again today.

"I feel good, but after my eye surgery in the winter, I'm having a hard time adjusting to the distance inside the peloton. When the split happened, I was too far back and ended up on the other side of the roundabout, losing a teammate.

"I was in the back but managed to get back to the lead group. I honestly don't know how I did it. I'm happy to still have the jersey."

"I'm happy that I still have the jersey.

The Italian leads Leonard Kemna (Bora-Hansgrohe) by 28 seconds, with teammate Magnus Sheffield in third at 30 seconds and Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates) in fourth at 34 seconds.

Ganna gained an advantage in Monday's 11.5km time trial, but fears being attacked on Thursday's fourth stage, a finish circuit with four steep climbs that fill the remaining 51km to Tortoleto.

He could limit his losses and keep the leader's jersey, but he faces a mountain finish to Sassotet on Friday and a tough "wall" stage on Saturday with a short climb on Le Marquet around Osimo.

"You have to be prepared for anything, but I have hope," Ganna said of Thursday's stage.

"The climbs are certainly more difficult than the overtaking battles. The circuit will be interesting to watch on TV, but it won't be much fun as a race."

Wout Van Aert confirmed that he would survive the four climbs to Tortoretto and go on to win the stage, but that did not lead Ganna to think he could do the same or better.

"I don't have the legs Van Aert has," Ganna said. I live the race stage by stage." I don't want to put pressure on myself or the team. We'll see what happens."

"What's the best case scenario for Ganna?" a Flemish journalist asked.

"That we all climb really easy," he joked.