Spain’s Alejandro Valverde on Tuesday won the 194km third stage of the Paris-Nice as Britain’s Bradley Wiggins kept the leader’s yellow jersey.
Valverde, 31, who is fresh from winning the Tour of Andalusia, edged out Australia’s Simon Gerrans and Gianni Meersman of Belgium in a final sprint after a day’s racing in bracing temperatures.
The Movistar rider’s Spanish compatriot Luis Leon Sanchez took fourth place ahead of Xavier Florencio.
A three-man breakaway comprising Denmark’s Michael Morkov, Dutch rider Roy Curvers and France’s Jimmy Engoulvent opened up the race from the first kilometer.
The trio led the chasing pack by nearly five minutes and were only caught in the final stages, with Engoulvent holding out until 6km from the finish.
Uzbekistan’s Sergey Lagutin then attacked with 4km to go, but he was caught in sight of the final-kilometer marker, as Valverde’s team controlled the pursuit.
Valverde, back in the peloton after serving a two-year doping ban, clawed back 10 seconds on Wiggins through bonus points and is now 20 seconds behind the Briton in the overall classification.
“Am I surprised to win after my suspension? Yes and no,” said Valverde, who was winning for the fourth time this season having opened his account at the Tour Down Under in Australia where he also beat Gerrans to the finish line. “The important thing is to be in the required physical shape.”
Labeling Paris-Nice, the first major stage race of the season, as a “very important” race, Valverde said he hopes to challenge Wiggins for overall victory leading up to the finale on Sunday.
“I’m still well up in the general classification, so I’m happy. Yesterday [Monday] we had a good day and again today,” Valverde said.
Luxembourg’s Andy Schleck was forced to abandon the race on Tuesday morning after a bout of acute gastroenteritis, his Radioshack team said.
RadioShack sports director Alain Gallopin, meanwhile, admitted: “The outcome of this stage was plain to see before the finish.”
“Everybody knew Sky would keep a tight rein on the breakaway and that Movistar would work hard to set up the win for Valverde. He’s unbeatable on this kind of finish,” he said.
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