LAUSANNE: Peter Sagan of Slovakia won the third stage of the Tour of Switzerland yesterday, as Germany’s Tony Martin retained the leader’s yellow jersey.
Sagan, riding for Canondale, crossed the line first in a sprint finish at the end of the 202.9km stage from Sarnen to Heiden, ahead of Swiss rider Michael Albasini and Colombia’s Sergio Henao. Australia’s 2011 Tour de France winner Cadel Evans and Portugal’s two-time defending champion Rui Costa, came home fifth and seventh respectively, as part of an 11-man group that gained five seconds on a second large pack which included Martin.
Luxembourg’s Frank Schleck, the older brother of 2010 Tour de France champion Andy, failed to make the start line on Monday after crashing badly during Sunday’s stage and suffering serious concussion. Britain’s Bradley Wiggins, the 2012 Tour de France champion, had a day to forget as he could only muster 74th spot on the stage, a significent 2min 25secs slower than Sagan and his main rivals for the overall title.
His team Sky have yet to confirm whether Wiggins will ride this year’s Tour with defending champion Chris Froome of Britain expected to lead the team.
The Kenyan-born Froome suffered a painful crash in last Friday’s sixth stage of the Criterium du Dauphine and although he reached the finish line on Sunday, he was obviously feeling the effects of his injuries slumping to a 12th place finish.
American Andrew Talansky won the Dauphine race, 27secs ahead of Spaniard Alberto Contador. Today’s Tour of Switzerland fourth stage will be a 160km ride from Heiden to Ossingen and features two minor category four climbs, the second of which peaks 15km from home.AFP
PARIS: Belgian sprinter Tom Boonen has confirmed he will not compete in next month’s Tour de France, several Belgian newspapers reported yesterday.
The former world road race champion, who is currently taking part in the Tour of Switzerland, is said to have other priorities for his year. He last competed in the Tour de France in 2011.
“My team does not need me for the tour,” Boonen said, referring to his Omega Pharma team who already have top sprinters Mark Cavendish and Tony Martin on their books for the race which starts in Leeds on July 5.
“It’s not that I have no desire to take part in the tour, it’s just that if I did that I could say goodbye to the rest of the season,” he added.
The 33-year-old Boonen has five wins under his belt already this season - two stages in the Tour of Qatar, two stages in the Tour of Belgium and in the Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne race.
His last stage win in the Tour de France was in 2007.
Meanwhile, Prince William, his wife Kate and his brother Prince Harry will attend the start of the Tour de France in the northern English city of Leeds next month, Kensington Palace yesterday.
The young royals will be at the Grand Depart in Yorkshire to see the 22 teams set off on the first leg of the 3,664-kilometre (2,276-mile) race.
The opening stage will see riders race from Leeds, through the Yorkshire Dales national park, to the spa town of Harrogate.
“The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry will attend the Tour de France Grand Depart in Yorkshire on July 5,” said a Kensington Palace spokesman.agencies
