Tour de France: Sagan wins Stage 3

22 year old Peter Sagan made his rivals dance to his tune as he ‘jigged’ his way over the line to win his second stage in the 2012 Tour de France.

[nggallery id=90]

Photos from Rob Lampard (Velostars) – Usage: Click to display an image, Use the cursor keys to move between images; Click an image to close. |
(Photos brought to you by Velostars who produce Great t-shirts to celebrate Great British cyclists)

RST Cycle Clothing & Trigon Bikes

At a Glance: 
Yellow Jersey: Fabian Cancellera | White jersey: Tejay Van Garderen |
| KoM Jersey: Michael Morkov | Green Jersey: Peter Sagan | Team: Sky

Stage-by-Stage Prologue | Stage 1 | Stage 2 |

On a day where crashes caused chaos in the peloton and Michael Morkov spent his third day in a row out front collecting King of the Mountain points, it was the chance for the Liquigas rider to live up to the superlatives that have been used to described the 22 year old Slovak.

“Run, Forest, Run” Sagan has some fun crossing the line to win his second stage doing an impersonation of Forest Gump … Photo Rob Lampard (Velostars)

The race came down to a group sprint between what was left of the peloton after crashes in the final 20 miles split the peloton into bits and with only five kilometres to go, Quickstep’s Chavanel attacked on the descent to the final climb.

On road he knew from his win in the French RR Championship in 2011, Chavanel gambled on having enough left in the tank to stay clear of the rest but within a few hundred metres of the final climb to the line, he was breathing through his ears and the peloton, led by BMC, came racing past him.

As the climb started to bite into the legs of the contenders for the stage, Sagan timed his effort well, racing past a rider (Poels ) who had gone too early, and whilst Tour of Britain winner Albasini had a dig, Sagan simply stamped harder on the pedals and with still 100 metres left, saw there was daylight between him and the rest and he started a little celebration ‘jig’ on his bike, and crossed the line for his second stage win from three stages.

Behind him, avoiding a crash as Westra tangled with a Katusha rider in the last hundred metres which also took out Chris Froome, yet another crash on a day of crashes, Sky’s Edvald Boasson Hagen held for second place whilst Quicksteps Peter Velits was third. Yellow jerseyed Fabian Cancellara was fourth. Bradley Wiggins was held up by the crash but the 3k rule means he finishes in the same time as the peloton.

Afterwards the Liquigas rider Peter Sagan said “Two stage wins is good for me. I want the Green jersey in Paris, I think. It’s my objective. I think it’s a big goal for me. To win a stage was also part of my plan even if I don’t win another stage, I’ll still try for the Green jersey. And I’ll win it, I think.  Today I had a plan for the victory salute. I spoke with my friends at dinner and we agreed I should do [an impersonation of] Forest Gump at the finish.”

“After a crash, I had to change my bicycle. I broke my chain. I’m very happy when I win. Today it was a finish for strong riders and I have very good legs.”

Video Summary of the Stage

The race
It was destined to be an attacking stage from Orchies to Boulogne-sur-Mer finishing as it did with so many short steep climbs within 10 miles of the finish line. As ever, there was a break and as it has been for the last few days it included the Danish rider Michael Morkov wearing the KoM jersey.

The break was instigated by Ruben Perez (EUS) and he was joined by Grivko (Astana) – who was the best placed on GC of the escapees, Minard (ALM) and Bernaudeau (Europacar). While the break rode to build a lead, behind crashes in the peloton were causing a lot of riders and teams problems.

Team Sky lost a rider as Kanstantsin Sivtsov was forced to abandon as was José Rojas. That crash was by far not the last time we were going to see riders on the tarmac. While Michael Morkov sprinted for the KoM points up ahead, the peloton was getting more and more nervous especially as they switched from wide roads to narrow ones or street furniture caught riders out. Simon Gerrans was just one rider who was caught out by one of the crashes, Gilbert another, as was the popular Thomas Voeckler. At one stage after the most serious of the crashes in the middle of the peloton, the bunch from the helicopter shot seemed to be half the size it had been before the crash and behind small groups were all trying like crazy to get back to the front

No doubt there will be lots of stories of woe coming from this stage as the night unfolds but the day belonged to Sagan.

At 22, he’s been touted, as others have in the past, as the new Eddy Merckx and whilst he’s a long way from showing that type of form, he is certainly the rider of the race so far and may well win more stages in the days and weeks to come.

Yellow remains with Cancellera

Fourth on the third stage, the yellow jersey Fabian Cancellara made no excuses for not being able to beat Peter Sagan… “On a stage like this, I knew I had to give it my all. There were narrow roads with plenty of twists and turns. It seems a bit like what I know the Tour of Flanders to be like. In the final kilometres it was very dangerous, and it was necessary for the whole team to work hard to keep me in the best position. Of course we’re used to that, but it really was not easy and I’ve got to thank them for what they did.”

“When I saw Chavanel attack, I thought that it could be dangerous; I know he is very strong so I asked Chris Horner to do another sprint ahead of the peloton to get closer to him. Then I saw that he could not keep seven seconds ahead. For the stage win, I was a little out of position – but that’s not an excuse. What I see is that I’m happy to have arrived with the yellow jersey, and without having had a problem.”

“I am in my place behind Sagan who is very good on these sorts of finishes. It is absolutely not a surprise to see him at this level when we know everything else that he has already won. It is even normal. When I go to a prologue, it’s me who wins. When there is a sprint, it’s Cavendish who wins. And on an arrival like this, it is [Sagan] who wins. He has class, will and power, and he has great years ahead of him. What we see here is really only the beginning.”

“For the yellow jersey, I don’t expect to wear it all the way to Switzerland because of the stage to La Planches des Belles Filles… it will be the ‘Planche’ of the sore legs! This is going to be a big climbers stage, so I know it will be impossible to keep the jersey there.”

What of the other stories in the race
The intermediate sprint again was noteworthy, not for the main points taken by the break but by the telling off Dutchman Kenny van Hummel got from Mark Cavendish who was boxed in and as he sprinted past Van Hummell, he was being quite vocal showing he can multi task quite well!

Cavendish also showed on the flat his has the speed to go past Sagan. Later in the stage though, Cavendish was held up by crash and whilst Garmin went crazy at the front to get back to the bunch, Dan Martin one of their riders held up by the crash as was Christian Vande Velde, the World Champion looked calm as he knew it was not a stage for him and what was the loss of a few minutes going to make?

Then there was the veteran Jens Voigt who was a star for Radioshack. At one stage some BMC riders came to the front and he just came round them as if to say them, sod off, this is my job! Well done Jens for his work at the front all day! There was also the panache from the likes of Michael Albasini who appeared as though he might be able to win on the final climb before the surge from Peter Sagan put paid to the Greenedge rider’s hopes.

Another favourite for the stage, Valverde, also had his hopes dashed but not by Sagan but by a roundabout at the bottom of the descent leading to the final climb. Chavanel  had almost overcooked it and so did Valverde who had to nearly stop and after being at the front, he was soon at the back of a very long string of riders. No doubt some choice Spanish swear words followed …

It had been some stage!

STAGE RESULT

1 Peter Sagan Liquigas – Cannondale 04:42:58
2 Edvald Boasson Hagen Sky Procycling 00:01
3 Peter Velits Omega Pharma – Quickstep @ same time
4 Fabian Cancellara RadioShack – Nissan @ same time
5 Michael Albasini Orica – GreenEDGE @ same time
6 Cadel Evans BMC Racing Team @ same time
7 Nicolas Roche Ag2R – La Mondiale @ same time
8 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez Euskaltel – Euskadi @ same time
9 Bauke Mollema Rabobank Cycling Team @ same time
10 Vincenzo Nibali Liquigas – Cannondale @ same time
11 Ryder Hesjedal Garmin – Sharp @ same time
12 Wout Poels Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team @ same time
13 Andr̩as Kl̦den RadioShack РNissan @ same time
14 Robert Kiserlovski Astana Pro Team @ same time
15 Jelle Vanendert Lotto – Belisol Team @ same time
16 Tejay Van Garderen BMC Racing Team @ same time
17 Janez Brajkovic Astana Pro Team @ same time
18 Robert Gesink Rabobank Cycling Team @ same time
19 Maxime Monfort RadioShack – Nissan @ same time
20 Frank Schleck RadioShack – Nissan @ same time
21 Gorka Izagirre Insausti Euskaltel – Euskadi @ same time
22 Pierre Rolland Europcar @ same time
23 Alejandro Valverde Movistar Team @ same time
24 R̩my Di Gregorio Cofidis РLe Credit En Ligne @ same time
25 Jurgen Van Den Broeck Lotto – Belisol Team @ same time
26 Thibaut Pinot Equipe Cycliste FDJ – BigMat @ same time
27 Steven Kruijswijk Rabobank Cycling Team @ same time
28 Egoi Martinez De Esteban Euskaltel – Euskadi @ same time
29 Pierrick Fedrigo Equipe Cycliste FDJ – BigMat @ same time
30 Oscar Gomez Freire Katusha Team @ same time
31 Ivan Basso Liquigas – Cannondale @ same time
32 Haimar Zubeldia Agirre RadioShack – Nissan @ same time
33 Rafael Valls Ferri Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team @ same time
34 Mikel Astarloza Euskaltel – Euskadi @ same time
35 Levi Leipheimer Omega Pharma – Quickstep @ same time
36 Luis Angel Mate Mardones Cofidis – Le Credit En Ligne @ same time
37 Jean-christophe Peraud Ag2R – La Mondiale @ same time
38 Andre Greipel Lotto – Belisol Team @ same time
39 Yukiya Arashiro Europcar @ same time
40 Fredrik Kessiakoff Astana Pro Team @ same time
41 Sylvain Chavanel Omega Pharma – Quickstep @ same time
42 Dries Devenyns Omega Pharma – Quickstep @ same time
43 Kris Boeckmans Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team @ same time
44 Baden Cooke Orica – GreenEDGE @ same time
45 Andriy Grivko Astana Pro Team @ same time
46 Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa Movistar Team @ same time
47 Nick Nuyens Team Saxo Bank – Tinkoff Bank @ same time
48 Sandy Casar Equipe Cycliste FDJ – BigMat 00:47
49 Tony Gallopin RadioShack – Nissan @ same time
50 Marcus Burghardt BMC Racing Team 00:01
51 Michael Rogers Sky Procycling @ same time
52 Michele Scarponi Lampre – ISD @ same time
53 Bradley Wiggins Sky Procycling @ same time
54 Gregory Henderson Lotto – Belisol Team @ same time
55 J̩rome Coppel Saur РSojasun @ same time
56 Chris Horner RadioShack – Nissan @ same time
57 Rein Taaramäe Cofidis – Le Credit En Ligne @ same time
58 Andrey Kashechkin Astana Pro Team @ same time
59 George Hincapie BMC Racing Team @ same time
60 Rob Ruijgh Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team @ same time
61 Alexandre Vinokourov Astana Pro Team 00:58
62 Laurens Ten Dam Rabobank Cycling Team 00:01
63 Kevin De Weert Omega Pharma – Quickstep 01:01
64 Sylvester Szmyd Liquigas – Cannondale 01:15
65 Denis Menchov Katusha Team 00:01
66 Eduard Vorganov Katusha Team @ same time
67 Vladimir Gusev Katusha Team 01:18
68 Nicki Sørensen Team Saxo Bank – Tinkoff Bank 01:31
69 Federico Canuti Liquigas – Cannondale @ same time
70 Davide Malacarne Europcar 01:33
71 Michael Schar BMC Racing Team 00:01
72 Bram Tankink Rabobank Cycling Team 01:33
73 Christopher Froome Sky Procycling 00:01
74 Daryl Impey Orica – GreenEDGE 02:02
75 Christian Vande Velde Garmin – Sharp 02:08
76 Chris Anker Sorensen Team Saxo Bank – Tinkoff Bank @ same time
77 Hubert Dupont Ag2R – La Mondiale @ same time
78 Richie Porte Sky Procycling @ same time
79 Christophe Riblon Ag2R – La Mondiale @ same time
80 Fabrice Jeandesboz Saur – Sojasun @ same time
81 Amets Txurruka Euskaltel – Euskadi @ same time
82 Guillaume Levarlet Saur – Sojasun @ same time
83 Martin Velits Omega Pharma – Quickstep 02:17
84 Maxim Iglinskiy Astana Pro Team 02:18
85 Johannes Frohlinger Argos-Shimano 02:32
86 José Ivan Gutierrez Palacios Movistar Team 02:40
87 Alessandro Vanotti Liquigas – Cannondale 02:44
88 Lars Ytting Bak Lotto – Belisol Team 03:26
89 Marcel Sieberg Lotto – Belisol Team 03:32
90 Jurgen Roelandts Lotto – Belisol Team 03:33
91 Bernhard Eisel Sky Procycling 03:38
92 Kristjan Koren Liquigas – Cannondale 03:54
93 Pieter Weening Orica – GreenEDGE @ same time
94 Stuart O’ Grady Orica – GreenEDGE @ same time
95 Matthew Goss Orica – GreenEDGE @ same time
96 Ruben Plaza Molina Movistar Team @ same time
97 Aleksandr Kuschynski Katusha Team @ same time
98 Ruben Perez Moreno Euskaltel – Euskadi @ same time
99 Joan Horrach Rippoll Katusha Team @ same time
100 Yuri Trofimov Katusha Team @ same time
101 Davide Vigano Lampre – ISD @ same time
102 Yaroslav Popovych RadioShack – Nissan 04:01
103 Marco Marcato Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team 00:01
104 Luca Paolini Katusha Team 04:10
105 Daniel Martin Garmin – Sharp 05:05
106 Jens Voigt RadioShack – Nissan 05:27
107 Michael Morkov Team Saxo Bank – Tinkoff Bank @ same time
108 Amaël Moinard BMC Racing Team @ same time
109 Arthur Vichot Equipe Cycliste FDJ – BigMat @ same time
110 Manuel Quinziato BMC Racing Team 06:42
111 Koen De Kort Argos-Shimano 07:03
112 Jorge Azanza Soto Euskaltel – Euskadi @ same time
113 Imanol Erviti Ollo Movistar Team @ same time
114 Romain Zingle Cofidis – Le Credit En Ligne @ same time
115 Adam Hansen Lotto – Belisol Team 07:17
116 Cyril Lemoine Saur – Sojasun 07:19
117 Jean-marc Marino Saur – Sojasun @ same time
118 Juan Jose Haedo Team Saxo Bank – Tinkoff Bank @ same time
119 Francis De Greef Lotto – Belisol Team 07:27
120 Mickael Cherel Ag2R – La Mondiale @ same time
121 Kenny Van Hummel Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team @ same time
122 Anthony Delaplace Saur – Sojasun @ same time
123 Lieuwe Westra Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team @ same time
124 Julien Fouchard Cofidis – Le Credit En Ligne @ same time
125 Anthony Roux Equipe Cycliste FDJ – BigMat @ same time
126 Marco Marzano Lampre – ISD @ same time
127 Maxime Bouet Ag2R – La Mondiale @ same time
128 Matthieu Ladagnous Equipe Cycliste FDJ – BigMat @ same time
129 Blel Kadri Ag2R – La Mondiale @ same time
130 Nicolas Edet Cofidis – Le Credit En Ligne @ same time
131 Danilo Hondo Lampre – ISD @ same time
132 J̩r̩my Roy Equipe Cycliste FDJ РBigMat @ same time
133 Julien Simon Saur – Sojasun @ same time
134 Bert Grabsch Omega Pharma – Quickstep @ same time
135 Yuriy Krivtsov Lampre – ISD @ same time
136 Yauheni Hutarovich Equipe Cycliste FDJ – BigMat @ same time
137 Dmitriy Fofonov Astana Pro Team @ same time
138 S̩bastien Hinault Ag2R РLa Mondiale @ same time
139 Alessandro Petacchi Lampre – ISD @ same time
140 S̩bastien Minard Ag2R РLa Mondiale @ same time
141 Matthew Lloyd Lampre – ISD @ same time
142 Dominik Nerz Liquigas – Cannondale @ same time
143 C̩dric Pineau Equipe Cycliste FDJ РBigMat @ same time
144 Giovanni Bernaudeau Europcar @ same time
145 Grega Bole Lampre – ISD @ same time
146 Anders Lund Team Saxo Bank – Tinkoff Bank @ same time
147 Sergio Miguel Moreira Paulinho Team Saxo Bank – Tinkoff Bank @ same time
148 Thomas Voeckler Europcar @ same time
149 Cyril Gautier Europcar @ same time
150 Vincent Jerome Europcar @ same time
151 Maarten Wynants Rabobank Cycling Team @ same time
152 Gorka Verdugo Marcotegui Euskaltel – Euskadi @ same time
153 Mark Cavendish Sky Procycling @ same time
154 Johnny Hoogerland Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team @ same time
155 Jonathan Cantwell Team Saxo Bank – Tinkoff Bank @ same time
156 Mark Renshaw Rabobank Cycling Team @ same time
157 Vladimir Karpets Movistar Team @ same time
158 Gustav Erik Larsson Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team @ same time
159 Jan Ghyselinck Cofidis – Le Credit En Ligne @ same time
160 David Moncouti̩ Cofidis РLe Credit En Ligne @ same time
161 Matthieu Sprick Argos-Shimano @ same time
162 Yohann Gène Europcar @ same time
163 Christophe Kern Europcar @ same time
164 Yann Huguet Argos-Shimano @ same time
165 Samuel Dumoulin Cofidis – Le Credit En Ligne @ same time
166 Steven Cummings BMC Racing Team @ same time
167 Christian Knees Sky Procycling 07:42
168 Philippe Gilbert BMC Racing Team 07:46
169 Vasil Kiryienka Movistar Team 07:52
170 Daniel Oss Liquigas – Cannondale 07:54
171 David Millar Garmin – Sharp 08:02
172 Tyler Farrar Garmin – Sharp 09:00
173 Robert Hunter Garmin – Sharp @ same time
174 David Zabriskie Garmin – Sharp @ same time
175 Thomas Danielson Garmin – Sharp 09:11
176 Borut Bozic Astana Pro Team 09:30
177 Tony Martin Omega Pharma – Quickstep 10:37
178 Brett Lancaster Orica – GreenEDGE @ same time
179 Johan Vansummeren Garmin – Sharp @ same time
180 Juan Jose Cobo Acebo Movistar Team @ same time
181 Simon Gerrans Orica – GreenEDGE @ same time
182 Sebastian Langeveld Orica – GreenEDGE @ same time
183 Karsten Kroon Team Saxo Bank – Tinkoff Bank @ same time
184 Maarten Tjallingii Rabobank Cycling Team @ same time
185 Luis Leon Sanchez Gil Rabobank Cycling Team @ same time
186 J̩rome Pineau Omega Pharma РQuickstep @ same time
187 Tom Veelers Argos-Shimano @ same time
188 Jimmy Engoulvent Saur – Sojasun @ same time
189 Giampaolo Caruso Katusha Team 16:26
190 Simone Stortoni Lampre – ISD @ same time
191 Pablo Urtasun Perez Euskaltel – Euskadi @ same time
192 Patrick Gretsch Argos-Shimano 16:29
193 Roy Curvers Argos-Shimano @ same time
194 Albert Timmer Argos-Shimano @ same time
195 Marcel Kittel Argos-Shimano @ same time
196 Brice Feillu Saur – Sojasun @ same time
DNF Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil Movistar Team
DNF Kanstantsin Siutsou Sky Procycling

 Overall

1 Fabian Cancellara RadioShack – Nissan 14:25:28
2 Bradley Wiggins Sky Procycling 00:07
3 Sylvain Chavanel Omega Pharma – Quickstep @ same time
4 Tejay Van Garderen BMC Racing Team 00:10
5 Edvald Boasson Hagen Sky Procycling 00:11
6 Denis Menchov Katusha Team 00:13
7 Cadel Evans BMC Racing Team 00:17
8 Vincenzo Nibali Liquigas – Cannondale 00:18
9 Ryder Hesjedal Garmin – Sharp @ same time
10 Andr̩as Kl̦den RadioShack РNissan 00:19
11 Bauke Mollema Rabobank Cycling Team 00:21
12 Maxime Monfort RadioShack – Nissan 00:22
13 Janez Brajkovic Astana Pro Team @ same time
14 Rein Taaramäe Cofidis – Le Credit En Ligne @ same time
15 Peter Sagan Liquigas – Cannondale 00:23
16 Jean-christophe Peraud Ag2R – La Mondiale @ same time
17 Marco Marcato Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team @ same time
18 Haimar Zubeldia Agirre RadioShack – Nissan 00:24
19 Wout Poels Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team @ same time
20 Nicolas Roche Ag2R – La Mondiale 00:25

KoM jersey: Morkov

Green jersey: Sagan

White jersey: Tejay Van Garderen

 

RST Cycle Clothing & Trigon Bikes

Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)

Other News on VeloUK

Tags: , , ,