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PARIS-NICE / STAGE 3
COFIDIS WORKS ITS AUTOMATISMS
In the first bunch sprint of this Paris-Nice, Cofidis demonstrated his ability to play si tu te best. This is good news for Thursday, which will no doubt give the sprinters another opportunity to express themselves before the mountain stages.
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After two particularly demanding days, this 3rd stage of Paris-Nice offered the riders some rest. Of course, the asphalt was often wet and the temperature cold, but everyone took precautions against the famous echelons that had made the race so dynamic on Sunday and Monday.
Looking forward to Thursday
With 60 km to go, Guillaume Martin crashed again but he was soon able to regain his place in the pack. The team then tried to protect its leader, Elia Viviani, as the pace intensified. Nicolas Edet, Guillaume Martin, Julien Vermote, Damien Touzé and Piet Allegaert took turns to put the Italian sprinter in the best position.
Unfortunately, the European champion was unable to join the battle for the final victory, hampered by Sam Bennett's fall in the 400 metres. Not enough to dampen the team's morale: after the time trial tomorrow, Thursday's stage should give Cofidis another opportunity to take his first victory at this Paris-Nice.
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Elia VIVIANI: "I would like to sincerely thank my teammates for the superb effort they put in until the final. My legs didn't respond properly in the last meters and I was also hampered by the crash when I started the sprint. It's obviously very frustrating but I want to apologise to the team who gave so much today. »
Cédric VASSEUR, General Manager: "The system has worked rather well today. We saw the team at the front try to position Elia (Viviani) well and Piet Allegaert did an exceptional job in the final metres. It was a difficult finish, more conducive to the punchers. With his current form, Elia deserves better. But every day that goes by allows to accumulate work and to improve the team cohesion. You have to be patient, but I'm sure it's going to end up smiling! »
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STAGE OF THE DAY
29th - Piet Allegaert, same time
36th - Guillaume Martin, '
42nd - Damien Touzé, '
52nd - Elia Viviani, '
57th - Cyril Lemoine, '
70th - Julien Vermote, at 1'53
98th - Nicolas Edet, at 5'50
107th - Anthony Pérez, at 5'50
GENERAL
30th - Cyril Lemoine, at 2'22''
46th - Damien Touzé, at 4'33
48th - Guillaume Martin at 5'13
56th - Piet Allegaert, at 7'25
60th - Julien Vermote, at 8'05''
69th - Elia Viviani, at 10'01''
91st - Nicolas Edet, at 14'41
98th - Anthony Pérez, at 15'22''
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Saint-Amand-Montrond - Saint-Amand-Montrond
15,5 km - Time trial
Cédric VASSEUR: "The time trial will allow us to establish the overall classification even more. Then, a new race will start. On Thursday, there will be one last opportunity for the sprinters and we will try to put the same system back in place as today. Then it's off to the mountain stages, where there will be plenty of opportunities to shine..."
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