Juan Jose Haedo wins 3rd stage and Patrick Gretsch maintains his overall lead in 2011 Ster ZLM Tour
Saxo Bank Sungard team’s Juan Jose Haedo Showed won the third stage of 2011 Ster ZLM tour on Friday, June 17. Patrick retained his overall leader’s yellow jersey.
The 30-year-old Argentine took a total of 5 hours, 12 minutes and 1 second to cover the distance of 202 kilometres.
After winning the stage, Juan said, “The stage developed perfectly for us and I'm truly proud to be able to round it off by winning the stage on this very tough course,"
Giacomo Nizzolo of Leopard Trek was the runner-up and Anthony Roux of FDJ was in the third spot with the same timing of Juan.
Recently, Juan won the third stage of Tirreno-Adriatico and also won Mumbai Cyclothon in 2010. He took the seventh stage of Volta a Catalunya.
A four-man breakaway formed early in the stage, comprised of Cedric Pineau (FDJ), Michael Vanderaerden (Donckers Koffie-Jelly Belly), Steven Van Vooren (Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator) and Cornelius van Ooijen (Team Jo Piels).
All of them built an advantage of 10 minutes over the peloton. With 70 kilometres to go, FDJ rider Cedric took the first four climb, but Vacansoleil-DCM team, Joost Van Leijen maintain his pace and push them back.
In the final 42 kilometres, a group of fifteen riders got away in the race including Philippe Gilbert, Niki Terpstra and Bram Tankink. Garmin-Cervelo kept the pressure on the peloton and pulled the group back.
Gilbert tried his best to gain a lead, but he was caught by the peloton and Haedo crossed the finish-line ahead of other cyclists.
Juan said, "Tomorrow (Saturday) there's another tiring day as we're entering the course of Liege-Bastogne-Liege where I believe that both Michael and Jonas will be strong enough to do a good result if everything goes their way.”
Patrick Gretsch took overall lead with the timing of 9 hours, 32 minutes and 23 seconds. Tyler Farrar of Garmin-Cervelo was in the second spot with 4 seconds behind the German.
Sky Procycling team’s Alex Dowsett finished third with the difference of 6 seconds, while Anthony Roux was in the fourth spot.
The next stage will start in Verviers and end in La Gileppe. All the riders will cover the distance of 184 kilometres.
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