Anton Vorobyev (Katusha) proved that he is much more than a time trial specialist by claiming an impressive solo win in the Circuit Cycliste Sarthe queen stage, just 24 hours after he had won the time trial. The Russian dropped his companions from a four-rider breakaway on the hilly finishing circuit and time trialled his way to victory with a 51-second advantage over Patrick Gretsch (Ag2r). Romain Hardy (Cofidis) won the sprint from a small 18-rider peloton while Marc Fournier (FDJ) dug deep to limit his losses sufficiently and retain the overall lead.

We have gathered a few reactions.

Anton Vorobyev after second win: I was just trying to do some good training

Feeling motivated after yesterday’s time trial win, Team KATUSHA’s Anton Vorobyev went for a repeat performance on Thursday’s stage 3 in the 64th Circuit Cycliste Sarthe. Vorobyev, age 25, made it two wins in as many days and brought the team tally to ten for the 2016 racing season. For the second time Anton Vorobyev was awarded the red jersey awarded to the daily winner in the 64th Circuit Cycliste Sarthe.

”Initially I didn't plan to go in the break, I wanted to help Matvey Mamykin to try for himself. But I caught a small group and decided to continue. In the group we worked well. I thought to work during the stage to do something like a race training because I expected some hard climbs on the laps, but later Dmitry Konyshev told me to try to attack. When we passed the first lap I checked it and found a right place for attack, so on the second lap I knew exactly where to go. Of course I had a tough 60 km alone, but I want to say a big thank to Dmitry Konyshev, who helped me a lot, saying where to work more, where to recover a bit. His help was crucial today. The last kilometers were really hard, but I did my best to keep the gap and to win it. I am really happy, I feel like it is the way to continue. I want to thank the whole team for their support and trust,” said stage winner Anton Vorobyev.

“We had a plan to go in the break. First Matvey Mamykin tried, but could not go away. Later it was Anton and this time it was a successful break. The group was able to get a good gap, but later there was not enough speed to hold the gap so Anton decided to go solo and it was the right decision. He is in good form and alone he could hold really good speed. It was a very strong and smart race from Anton; I am very happy for him. This is a really nice victory,” said team director Dmitry Konyshev.

Team KATUSHA’s GC man Tiago Machado finished the stage in the main group, placing 13th. It allowed him to move up to 7th place in general classification, 2 minutes and 18 seconds behind the leader. Anton Vorobyev took the green jersey of the point classification. 

Thomas Voeckler: We were not strong enough to blow the race to pieces

Direct Energie tried to drop Marc Fournier on finishing circuit but the team failed to gain not time.

“But we didn’t have the capacity to put the bunch into pieces," Thomas Voeckler acknowledged after having taken fourth on the stage.

Betancur shows signs of form in Circuit Cycliste Sarthe

The two Andalusians from the Movistar Team - Juanjo Lobato and Javi Moreno - took the reins during the Queen stage of the Circuit de la Sarthe, with its six climbs of the Montée des Avaloirs in the 190.3km trek from Angers to Pré-en-Pail. While Lobato dug deep into a terrain better suited for climbers to take 5th in the day - third in the bunch, behind Hardy (COF) and Voeckler (DEN); escapees Vorobyev (KAT) and Gretsch (ALM) had crossed the line prior - Moreno completed his fine overall performance with an 11th spot in the stage and 5th in the GC, mostly decided as Fournier (FDJ) holds a two-minute lead with one day to go. Lobato is now 8th in the GC, as Carlos Betancur, quite close to the first group today, sits in 25th. 

Marc Fournier after excellent jersey defence: I don’t know what’s going on

This fourth stage of the Circuit de la Sarthe was feared by FDJ and there was a little concern with 20 kilometers to go. However, nobody lost their composure and Marc Fournier retained the lead.

"From the third kilometer, there was a breakaway of four riders," explains sports director Thierry Bricaud, "with Jarrier (Fortuneo Vital Concept) and Grestch (AG2R-La Mondiale) who were nearly three minutes behind overall, and Vorobyev (Katusha) the winner of the time trial. He won again today. It was not easy but the team was strong and stayed around its young leader. The escape got more than six minutes early and we had to manage both the break and the finale which was not easy. I quickly realized that everyone had sore legs and a fight broke out later. Seb Cavanel and Lorrenzo Manzin rode for 140 kilometers before Benoît Vaugrenard took over and Kévin Reza and Laurent Pichon stayed with the yellow jersey."

Twenty kilometers from the finish, Marc Fournier was struggling a bit and found himself in a third peloton but his teammates did not panick, bringing him back to the second group and a lot of work from Kevin Reza allowed him to stay within reach of the first group.

"Really my teammates did a great job," confirms Marc Fournier. "This morning before the start, having never been in this situation, I was a bit stressed but I'm lucky to have experienced riders with me. They worked from the start. Benoît Vaugrenard is a great road captain and didn't stop talking to me, just like Thierry Bricaud in the radio and finally everything went well. On the last lap, I could see that the front guys hesitated a bit and I attacked to do thef final climb as a time trial that allowed me to catch up with the peloton and finish 27 seconds behind Voeckler who was in the main group. I didn't start well but it paid off and I am super happy. I think that with a one-minute advantage before the last stage which is flat, there is some room for me and my teammates.

"I never believe that we have won before the race is over," adds Bricaud, "but tomorrow's stage is flat and there are sprinters who will want to win and teams to help us. I think we have done the hard part physically."

"It's fantastic what happens, Marc Fournier told France Télévisions.” It isincredulous.  My teammates were like workaholics. I do not even know how to thank them. It was a crazy race. We quickly took the lead. Then on the final circuit, my teammates gave everything and I just had to do in the last clim. It is exceptional what they have done today. I do not know what's going on here ... I do not realize it. It will be my first victory in a stage race with the pros. 

“I wouldn’t be here without them. I’m not too sure of what’s happening to me. It’s wonderful. It’s exceptional.

“I don’t want to say that it’s done but with almost two minutes lead and considering the last stage is flattish, I can eye the overall win. Normally it’ll be for the sprinters on Friday.”

Roth on the attack in Sarthe queen stage

Today the 3rd stage of Circuit de la Sarthe took place, the hardest of the race. Straight from the beginning of the stage, Nicolas Baldo was in the breakaway with three other riders. In the last 45 kilometers, the group was split. Baldo was then caught by the peloton.

"I'm quite satisfied with today's race. Last Sunday at Paris Camembert I crashed and after that, my shape wasn't that good anymore, but today it was better", explained Baldo.