Team NetApp-Endura are keen to prove themselves worthy of their invitation for the Criterium du Dauphiné and so they have a plan to ride aggressively throughout the 8-day race. Today Cesare Benedetti animated the racing by joining the early breakaway.
The sprinters showed their mettle in today's third stage of the Criterium du Dauphine. The race was decided in a photo finish after a mass sprint, which the German Nikias Arndt (Giant-Shimano) won just ahead of Belgian Kris Boeckmans (Lotto-Belisol) and South African Reinardt Janse van Rensburg (Giant-Shimano). During the race, which led from Ambert to Le Teil over 194 km, NetApp-Endura’s Cesare Benedetti came in as part of a three-man breakaway group that managed to hold the lead for 170 km.
The top of the general classification remained unchanged today. Christopher Froome (Sky) continues to lead. NetApp-Endura’s Leo Koenig stayed in 13th place, coming in 1:44 minutes behind the leaders.
“It was a great day for the team. Cesare got the chance to shine and he took it. Although we naturally hoped that a larger group would materialize, that would also have a chance of getting through. There are simply too many teams with fast riders here doing the pursuit work to ensure that their own man gets into position. We were represented by three riders in the final sprint who were able to prove themselves. Unfortunately the outcome was not the way we had envisaged it,” said Enrico Poitschke.
Cesare Benedetti and two other riders pulled ahead of the field right at the start of the stage.The trio quickly managed to build up a lead of almost four minutes. A descent favored the escapees, so they were able to build up their lead to seven minutes. Only after the last mountain and 170 kilometers were the escapees caught. Shortly after that an eight-man group tried their luck at a breakaway, but were caught 5 km before the finish and the sprinter teams took over the final.
The fourth stage of the Criterium du Dauphine Rundfahrt will take the peloton over 167 km from Montelimar to Gap. A special challenge awaits in the final round, where the Col de Manse (1290 m), 9 km long and not very steep, must be crossed before the final sloping kilometers into the finish.
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