Report – Dowsett drops out of contention

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Alex Dowsett dropped out of contention in Circuit le Sarthe whilst Stephen Cummings is 7th on tough stage in the mountains

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Report – Dowsett drops out of contention – Bitter Queen stage for Dowsett

Alex Dowsett gave 100 percent on the queen stage but was unable to hold onto the Overall lead. “The team were literally incredible today” said Alex afterwards. “I gave it my all and a bit but the finishing circuit was just too much. Gutted.”

That was the reaction by Alex Dowsett (Movistar Team) after losing his coveted yellow jersey in the Circuit de la Sarthe, just 24 hours after seizing it with his TT victory. The Pré-en-Pail stage (197km), with five climbs of the Mont des Avaloirs, ruined the Essex boy’s chances after an extraordinary piece of work by his team-mates on French soil.

Iván Gutiérrez and an exceptional Jasha Sütterlin kept the pace into the bunch for more than three hours, not letting the early break going away much as they entered the final circuit with less than four minutes.

The two left the front just as Dowsett started struggling: after getting over the first two climbs, he ultimately was dropped on the third, 25k from the finish, the attacks and the strong pace by IAM taking him out of contention.

Downhearted, Alex crossed the line more than fifteen minutes after the leaders, accompanied by Ventoso and Lobato. Meanwhile, Jesús Herrada got into the final selection following the last ascent, his group chasing a late attempt by Francis Mourey (FDJ) to contest the sprint, where he claimed 9th as Ramunas Navardauskas (GRS) grabbed the day’s honours and the GC leadership.

Action in the Pays du Loire will end tomorrow with another lumpy 185km between Abbaye de l’Epau y La Ferté-Bernard.

Stage 4
1 NAVARDAUSKAS Ramunas Garmin Sharp 04:58:12
2 SIMON Julien Cofidis, Solutions Crédits 00:04
3 ROUX Anthony FDJ.fr
4 FELLINE Fabio Trek Factory Racing 00:08
5 VOECKLER Thomas Team Europcar 00:09
6 FRANK Mathias IAM Cycling
7 CUMMINGS Stephen BMC Racing Team
8 DELAPLACE Anthony Bretagne РS̩ch̩ Environnement
9 HERRADA Jesús Movistar Team
10 HUZARSKI Bartosz Team NetApp – Endura

60 ROWSELL Erick Team NetApp – Endura 10.32
89 DOWSETT Alex Movistar Team 16.21
90 IGNATYEV Mikhail Team Katusha 17:25
93 MCEVOY Jonathan Team NetApp – Endura 20.45

OVERALL
1 NAVARDAUSKAS Ramunas Garmin Sharp

 

 

 

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