Paris-Nice 2014 Results 3rd stage - Degenkolb wins at last!
It was a case of 3rd time lucky for John Degenkolb as he sprinted to the win in stage 3 of Paris-Nice after 2 consecutive 2nd places. (Slideshow route/profile)
Perrig Quemeneur, Julien Fouchard and Romain Feillu made up today's escape but were never given too much freedom and the lead hovered around 3 minutes maximum. As expected they were hoovered up in the final kilometres to make way for the sprint showdown.
A battle of the sprint trains ensued and saw Giant-Shimano, OmegaPharma-Quikstep and Orica Greenedge all take control at one point or another but in the end Giant won out with Degenkolb taking a sprint win after two consecutive 2nd places.
Matthew Goss and Jose Rojas round out the top 3 on the stage with previous winners Bouhanni and Hofland both in the top 10.
The result sees Degenkolb take over the leader's jersey with the time bonus' gained. The three stage winners make up the GC podium with Bouhanni in 2nd and Hofland third.
Paris-Nice 2014 Results 3rd stage
1 John Degenkolb (Ger)
2 Matthew Harley Goss (aus) s.t.
3 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (spa) s.t.
4 Borut Bozic (slo) s.t.
5 Tom Boonen (bel) s.t.
6 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) s.t.
7 Nacer Bouhanni (fra) s.t.
8 Thor Hushovd (Nor) s.t.
9 Gert Steegmans (bel) s.t.
10 Moreno Hofland (Nld) s.t.
GC after 3rd stage
1 John Degenkolb (Ger) 13:14:01
2 Nacer Bouhanni (fra) 0.08
3 Moreno Hofland (Nld) 0:12
4 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (spa) 0:18
5 Geraint Thomas (Gbr) 0:21
6 Bryan Coquard (fra) 0:22
7 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) 0:22
8 Nikolay Trusov (rus) 0:22
9 Samuel Dumoulin (fra) 0:22
10 Marco Marcato (ita) 0:22
