Tour de France 2017: Sagan bests Matthews, Thomas still in yellow

At 212.5 kilometres, the 3rd stage of the Tour de France travels on a hilly route to Longwy. The race comes down to the punchy arrival atop the local Citadel. Peter Sagan outperforms his competition, while Geraint Thomas holds on to the maillot jaune. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 3rd stage 2017 Tour de France

1. Peter Sagan (svk)
2. Michael Matthews (aus) s.t.
3. Daniel Martin (irl) s.t.
4. Greg Van Avermaet (bel) s.t.
5. Alberto Bettiol (ita) + 0.02
6. Arnaud Démare (fra) s.t.
7. Jakob Fuglsang (den) s.t.
8. Geraint Thomas (gbr) s.t.
9. Chris Froome (gbr) s.t.
10. Rafal Majka (pol) z.t

11. Nairo Quintana (col) s.t.
12. Romain Bardet (fra) s.t.
13. Tim Wellens (bel) s.t.
14. Richie Porte (aus) s.t.
17. Fabio Aru (ita) s.t.
18. Alberto Contador (spa) s.t.
20. Esteban Chaves (col) s.t.
24. Louis Meintjes (rsa) s.t.
34. Simon Yates (gbr) + 0.10

GC after the 3rd stage
1. Geraint Thomas (gbr)
2. Chris Froome (gbr) + 0.12
3. Michael Matthews (aus) + s.t.
4. Peter Sagan (svk) + 0.13
5. Edvald Boasson Hagen (nor) + 0.16
6. Pierre Latour (fra) + 0.25
7. Philippe Gilbert (bel) + 0.30
8. Michal Kwiatkowski (pol) + 0.32
9. Tim Wellens (bel) s.t.
10. Nikias Arndt (ger) + 0.34

15. Daniel Martin (irl) + 0.43
18. Simon Yates (gbr) + 0.45
20. Richie Porte (aus) + 0.47
21. Nairo Quintana (col) + 0.48
23. Rafal Majka (pol) + 0.49
24. Romain Bardet (fra) + 0.51
26. Fabio Aru (ita) + 0.52
27. Alberto Contador (spa) + 0.54
29. Jakob Fuglsang (den) s.t.
42. Louis Meintjes (rsa) + 1.12
44. Esteban Chaves (col) + 1.13

Race report
A lot of movement after the start and eventually Adam Hansen, Nils Politt and Romain Hardy break clear. Romain Sicard, Nathan Brown and Frederik Backaert chase them down before Brown is first to crest Côte de Sart. The six race to a lead of 2 minutes and there it lingers for quite a while until Politt attacks on the Côte de Wiltz and Brown re-joins him on the Côte d’Eschdorf. They widen the gap to more than 3 minutes and Brown is first to crest the Eschdorf, thus taking the polka dot jersey from his team-mate Taylor Phinney. Following the descent the front riders re-group, while the peloton brings the difference down to less than 2 minutes.

With 60 kms to go, when the gap is slightly more than 1 minute, Thomas De Gendt, Lilian Calmejane and Pierre-Luc Perichon bridge over to the front group. With three they push on, while Hardy hooks up. With 22 kms left Calmejane heads out on his own. His solo lasts for 11 kms before the peloton gobbles him up.

The race comes down to the steep and twisting climb to the Citadel of Longwy. Richie Porte attacks early on, but Sagan moves to his wheel to take control. His foot even slips off the pedal and still he sprints to victory, although Matthews moves up close, only to find the World Champion bests him by millimetres.

Geraint Thomas comes in eight, thus cementing his overall lead. Chris Froome sits in second in the same time as Michael Matthews.