Critérium du Dauphiné 2017: Koen Bouwman brings early break home, De Gendt still in yellow

On gently undulating roads the 3rd stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné runs from Le Chambon-sur-Lignon to Tullins. On paper a chance for sprinters, but they miscalculate and young Koen Bouwman is fastest in the six-up sprint of escapees. Thomas De Gendt retains in the overall lead. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 3rd stage 2017 Critérium du Dauphiné

1. Koen Bouwman (nld)
2. Evaldas Siskevicius (lit) s.t.
3. Frederik Backaert (bel) s.t.
4. Bryan Nauleau (fra) s.t.
5. Alexey Vermeulen (usa) s.t.
6. Quentin Pacher (fra) s.t.
7. Arnaud Démare (fra) + 0.11
8. Bryan Coquard (fra) s.t.
9. Pascal Ackermann (ger) s.t.
10. Phil Bauhaus (ger) s.t.

GC after the 3rd stage
1. Thomas De Gendt (bel)
2. Axel Domont (fra) + 0.48
3. Diego Ulissi (ita) + 1.03
4. Pierre Latour (fra) + 1.07
5. Emanuel Buchmann (ger) s.t.
6. Sonny Colbrelli (ita) + 1.09
7. Ben Swift (gbr) s.t.
8. Alejandro Valverde (spa) s.t.
9. Tony Gallopin (fra) s.t.
10. Martin Guillaume(fra) s.t.

12. Chris Froome (gbr) s.t.
17. Esteban Chaves (col) s.t.
21. Michal Kwiatkowski (pol) s.t.
24. Fabio Aru (ita) s.t.
25. Andrew Talansky (usa) s.t.
25. Daniel Martin (irl) s.t.
30. Richie Porte (aus) s.t.
34. Romain Bardet (fra) s.t.
37. Simon Yates (gbr) s.t.
44. Alberto Contador (spa) s.t.

Race report
At km 2 six riders break clear. Koen Bouwman, Alexey Vermeulen, Bryan Nauleau, Frederik Backaert, Quentin Pacher and Edvaldas Siskevicius race to a maximum lead of almost 7 minutes.

Bouwman is first to crest Côte de Saint-Félicien, Col de Fontayes, Côte de Sarrets and Côte de Roybon. The 23-year old Dutchman, who was in yesterday's break too, takes 5 KOM points and closes in on KOM leader De Gendt. Still 3 more points to go for Bouwman.

But first something else, namely the finish. The pack comes too late and Vermeulen keeps a steady pace on the long straight to the line. His team-mate Bouwman launches his sprint with about 300 metres to go and stays ahead of the group to win his first pro victory with a clear margin.

De Gendt finishes safely in the pack to hold on to the yellow jersey.