- The 3rd stage , Queen of the Tour de Romandie from Le Bouveret to Aigle ( 180.2 km ) gave encouraging signals about the condition of Rui Costa for Lampre Merida.
A fraction initially peaceful , with the classic escape of the day to animate the race consisted of eight men , including a big Favilli able to fit in the attack with good timing and proper to anticipate the immediate first category climb of the Col des Planches .
The difficult path of the Queen stage, then smashed the composition of the group of head and even his hopes of being able to get up to the finish line. Bravo , however Favilli to resist until the 2nd ascent of first category in the program today , leaving covered in group his mates in view of the difficult final .
On the last ascent of Villars is then started the brawl of the men of rank , Nibali was the first groped in an attack , but immediately stopped by opponents. The gear change was made final by Froome then that in the sole company of a great Spilak took off until the finish line . Behind them, an uncertain situation until the brow , with a great Rui Costa able to manage themselves and return to the top of the hill in the group immediately behind the tandem of head , about a minute of late. Rui then baptized the wheel of the best skier of the group Nibali , with whom he led the head of the trackers along the treacherous descent to Aigle, then showing brilliance in winning the sprint group and finished in 3rd place with a delay of 57 ” from the winner Spilak who ruled Froome in the sprint for the win in 2 .
Thanks to the good test today and also won the sprint with the bonus , Rui Costa salt on the 3rd step of the virtual podium of the competition .
The words of the World Champion : “I’m pleased with how things went today, despite the shoulder’s problem that limits me even in natural movements on bike, the condition is not at 100% but is still good and gives me the moral for next steps . Nowadays , the race was really tough and made even more difficult by the rain, I have defended well and in fact in the end I still had strength to be able to beat my opponents the sprint . I have to congratulate the tandem of head, Spilak and Froome that today has been shown to have more legs than all of us . However in my difficult moment I enjoy the virtual third place on the podium in the overall standing. ”
The impressions of the DS Matxin : ” The Queen stage of the race went really well for us. Favilli followed the request to enter the first actions of the day, allowing the team to remain covered on the difficult path of today until the final climb . Rui showed grit and character in the ascent of Villars and I must say that in the sprint for 3rd place he showed a good condition . Tomorrow we expect a step nonetheless insidious , with the circuit of Freiburg that shows the tear in pavé on which we must be careful to attacks from men of rank with Rui . ”
Order of Arrive :
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1SPILAK Simon (KAT)05:09:23
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2FROOME Christopher (SKY)05:09:23
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3COSTA RUI Alberto (LAM)05:10:20
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4FUGLSANG Jakob (AST)05:10:20
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5INTXAUSTI Beñat (MOV)05:10:20
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6FRANK Mathias (IAM)05:10:20
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7NIBALI Vincenzo (AST)05:10:20
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8HERRADA LOPEZ Jesus (MOV)05:11:04
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9PINOT Thibaut (FDJ)05:11:04
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10TALANSKY Andrew (GRS)05:11:04
General Standing:
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1SPILAK Simon (KAT)11:39:25
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2FROOME Christopher (SKY)11:39:26
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3COSTA RUI Alberto (LAM)11:40:27
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4NIBALI Vincenzo (AST)11:40:31
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5FRANK Mathias (IAM)11:40:35
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6INTXAUSTI Beñat (MOV)11:40:38
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7FUGLSANG Jakob (AST)11:40:39
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8HERRADA LOPEZ Jesus (MOV)11:41:05
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9IZAGUIRRE Jon (MOV)11:41:13
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10TALANSKY Andrew (GRS)11:41:15
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