Italian cyclists dominated the third stage of the 2011 Betfair Tour ta’ Malta in Gozo, yesterday.

Overnight leader Andrew Griffiths could only finish ninth at Nadur to concede the red jersey to Matthew Higgins.

Surprisingly, despite having dominated the second and third stages, no Italian rider has so far worn the red jersey.

Now, everything depends on the fourth and final stage today, a 12km individual time trial at the Żebbuġ By-Pass, back on the mainland.

Despite a rather strong wind, the race was held at a very fast pace but Griffiths, a Briton of Maltese descent, could not match the pace of the leading pack. He finished almost two minutes behind.

That cost him the red jersey and now the new overall leader is Higgins. The Virgin Active rider could only finish fourth and failed to make the podium at Nadur.

Higgins recorded the same time as the top three, namely, Francesco Guccione (Ballatore Team), Gregory Bianchi (Fausto Coppi Team) and Filippo Ballatore (Ballatore Team), all clocked at 1:34.59.

Higgins now leads with an aggregate time of 4 hours 36 minutes. He is 31 seconds ahead of Griffiths. Bianchi is 10 seconds behind Griffiths in third place.

In the women’s Tour, Anna Harkowska (CSM Team Berlin) and Michela Gorini (Fausto Coppi Team) continued their neck-and-neck battle with the Italian this time pipping Harkowska to the post in 1:07.53.

Sarah Maidment (Squadra Donne UK) was third, almost two minutes behind.

Harkowska retained the red jersey.

The Masters race was another Italian en plein with Stefano Baggiani (Fausto Coppi Team) finishing first ahead of Salvatore Casi (ASD Omina Ragusa) and Ettore Pierini (BMG Bike), all at 57:05.

Frederick Azzopardi and Joe Bajada presented the trophies to the winners.

At the end of the Żebbuġ stage today, a bike ride will take place to the Ferries, Sliema, where the presentations ceremony will take place.