March 06, 2013 (Brioude, France) – American cycling still has a bright future ahead as Andrew Talansky showed when he surged in the final stretch of the third stage of Paris-Nice in Brioude to take the reins of the Race to the Sun. It was actually a race in the rain on the 170.5 kilometres from Chatel-Guyon and the Miami-born Talansky displayed his all-round skills to outsprint a group of seven escapees, who held the peloton at bay in the final ten kilometres.
The final second category climb was decisive but in its downhill part when the break took shape and the 24-year-old American outwitted Italy’s David Malacarne and Spain’s Gorka Izaguirre on the line. Overall, Talansky now leads the man who launched the decisive move, Ukraine’s Andriy Grivko, by three seconds.
Gang of four
The start was given in the rain at 11:57 to 176 riders. Ivan Guttierez (MOV) did not start. Four riders moved away at kilometre 3. They were Martijn Keizer (VCD), SÈbastien Minard (ALM) , Mads Christensen (TST), already in a break in stage 2, and Alexis Vuillermoz (SOJ). The break rapidly gained momentum and remained stable at around four minutes. Christensen won the first intermediate sprint of the day (Km 34) ahead of Vuillermoz and Keizer.
Keizer collects polka-dot points
The Vacansoleil rider had obviously gone in the break to keep the polka-dot jersey in the team. He was first on top of the Col de Potey (km 85) and Cote de la Foret de la Comte (km 95.5), both times ahead of Vuillermoz. While the Cannondale team-mates of Elia Viviani led the chase, they were joined by Tom Boonen (OPQ), who spent many miles in the lead, gearing up for the upcoming classics.
As a result, the four were caught by the pack at kilometer 148, before reaching the last climb of the day. Team Sky imposed a fast pace in the Cote de Mauvagnat, too fast for leader Viviani, who lost ground with 18 kms to go.
Magnificent seven
In the descent Andriy Grivko (AST) attacked with Vasili Kiriyenka (SKY), who crashed, but was still joined by two other Team Sky riders, Richie Porte and David Lopez Garcia, local favorite Romain Bardet (ALM), David Malacarne (EUC), Gorka Izaguirre (EUS) and Andrew Talansky (GRS). The seven worked perfectly together and managed to hold the chasing bunch at bay until the finish line. While the Sky riders had done a great share of the work, they paid it in the finale and there was no stopping Talansky when he surged to snatch his major win to date.
Among the big names to lose vital time today were Robert Gesink (BLA), who lost a minute, Simon Gerrans (OGE), who finished 2:58 behind, or Thomas de Gendt (VCD), who lost 5:29.
Results
1. Andrew Talansky (USA) Garmin Sharp 4:06:15
2. Davide Malacarne (Ita) Team Europcar
3. Gorka Izaguirre Insausti (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi
4. David Lopez Garcia (Esp) Sky Procycling
5. Richie Porte (Aus) Sky Procycling
6. Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
7. Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Astana Pro Team
8. Jonathan Hivert (Fra) Sojasun 0:07
9. Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Astana Pro Team
10. Maxime Bouet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
GC after Stage 3
1. Andrew Talansky (USA) Garmin Sharp 14:39:36
2. Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Astana Pro Team 0:03
3. Davide Malacarne (Ita) Team Europcar
4. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team 0:04
5. Gorka Izaguirre Insausti (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0:05
6. Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:06
7. Richie Porte (Aus) Sky Procycling 0:07
8. Peter Velits (Svk) Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team 0:08
9. David Lopez Garcia (Esp) Sky Procycling 0:09
10. Jonathan Hivert (Fra) Sojasun 0:12