Dan Martin Second On Tour Of Beijing Stage 3

Last updated : 11 October 2012 By Kev Monks

Francesco Gavazzi of Astana won the third stage of the Tour Of Beijing this morning with Ireland's Dan Martin finishing second.

Today's stage took in the Great Wall of China, some 65kms outside of Beijing on a 162.5km stage from Green Sea Forest Park to Yan Qing Ba Da Ling Great Wall.

King Of The Mountains leader Dan Martin was second on the first climb of the day after 19kms but had dropped after 37kms when Pim Ligthart took the second climb.

Lighthart was in a seven man break and took the third climb after 68kms.

The break of Pim Ligthart (Vacansoleil-DCM), Mikel Nieve (EUS), Andriy Grivko (Astana), George Bennett (RadioShack-Nissan), Christian Meier (Orica-GreenEdge), Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil-DCM), and Matthieu Ladagnous (FDJ-Big Mat) who was now the leader on the road being only three minutes down on race leader Tony Martin, were four minutes clear.

With twenty kilometres to go, their lead was ninety seconds and seven kilometres later, the peloton had eaten 32 seconds into that lead.

It was a very misty day as the peloton caught the escapers just before the entrance to the Great Wall. Christian Maier tried to stay clear but he was caught and the attacks came. 

AGR2R' s Slyvain Georges stayed out until he was caught with 3kms to go and Team Sky's Edvald Boason Hagen took over at the front.

He got to within inches of the line and there was Francesco Gavazzi of Astana just ahead of Dan Martin (Pictured Below) who pipped him to the line in a time of 4.05.07.

Race leader Tony Martin keeps his red jersey, some 40 seconds ahead of Gavazzi and fifty seconds ahead of Dan Martin.

 

 

 

Picture copyright of Covsupport News Service. Credit CNS/KM