Sagan Strikes in Stage 3 of the Tour de Suisse
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AFP / Yuzuru Sunada
Peter Sagan of Slovakia won the third stage of the Tour of Switzerland on Monday, as Germany’s Tony Martin retained the leader’s yellow jersey. Sagan, riding for Canondale, crossed the line first in a sprint finish at the end of the 202.9km stage from Sarnen to Heiden, ahead of Swiss rider Michael Albasini and Colombia’s Sergio Henao.
Australia’s 2011 Tour de France winner Cadel Evans and Portugal’s two-time defending champion Rui Costa, came home fifth and seventh respectively, as part of an 11-man group that gained five seconds on a second large pack which included Martin. Luxembourg’s Frank Schleck, the older brother of 2010 Tour de France
champion Andy, failed to make the start line on Monday after crashing badly during Sunday’s stage and suffering serious concussion.
Britain’s Bradley Wiggins, the 2012 Tour de France champion, had a day to forget as he could only muster 74th spot on the stage, a significent 2:25 slower than Sagan and his main rivals for the overall title. His team Sky have yet to confirm whether Wiggins will ride this year’s Tour with defending champion Chris Froome of Britain expected to lead the team. The Kenyan-born Froome suffered a painful crash in last Friday’s sixth
stage of the Criterium du Dauphine and although he reached the finish line on Sunday, he was obviously feeling the effects of his injuries slumping to a 12th place finish. American Andrew Talansky won the Dauphine race, 27 seconds ahead of Spaniard Alberto Contador.
Tuesday’s Tour of Switzerland fourth stage will be a 160km ride from Heiden to Ossingen and features two minor category four climbs, the second of which peaks 15km from home.
Tour de Suisse Stage 3
1. Peter Sagan (SVK/CAN) 5:22:09
2. Michael Albasini (SWI/ORI) @ s.t.
3. Sergio Henao (COL/SKY) s.t.
4. Bauke Mollema (NED/BKN)
5. Cadel Evans (AUS/BMC)
6. Jose Joaquin Rojas (ESP/MOV)
7. Rui Costa (POR/LAM)
8. Thibaut Pinot (FRA/FDJ)
9. Mathias Frank (SWI/IAM)
10. Roman Kreuziger (CZE/TIN)General Classification After Stage 3
1. Tony Martin (GER/OPQ) 10:44:34
2. Tom Dumoulin (NED/GIA) @ :06
3. Peter Sagan (SVK/CAN) @ :14
4. Bauke Mollema (NED/BKN) @ :17
5. Tom Slagter (NED/GRM) @ :23
6. Davide Formolo (ITA/CAN) @ :27
7. Jon Izagirre (ESP/MOV) @ :27
8. Roman Kreuziger (CZE/TIN) @ :28
9. Mathias Frank (SWI/IAM) @ :29
10. Mattia Cattaneo (ITA/LAM) @ :29