Kristoff Wins The Three Days De Panne

Last updated : 02 April 2015 By Covsupport News Service

Alexander Kristoff has won the Three Days Of De Panne race in Belgium

The Norwegian rider with Katusha had won three consecutive stages going into Stage 3B which was a 14.2km time trial in De Panne.

Jesse Sergent (Trek Factory Racing) set the early time to beat of 18:17 on a sunny afternoon before Guillaume van Keirsbulck (Etixx-QuickStep) finished in 18:07.

The attention was on Sir Bradley Wiggins of Team Sky. The World Champion was in his last time trial, before he starts in his preparations for the 2016 Olympics.

Wiggins rode well and was able to shave ten seconds off Kung's time to finish in 17.49.57.

With no-one left in the race likely to get near the time of the Team Sky rider, although Stefan Keung (BMC) became the second man to break eighteen minutes when he came home in 17:59, attention turned to the last man down the ramp in Alexander Kristoff.

The Katusha rider finished eighteen seconds down on Wigginss time which was good enough for third place and the race overall.

Wiggins told his team's website: "I think it was one of my first time trials as a professional back in 2002 and it's probably my last one on this level. So it's nice to win and it was certainly in my mind today and this week. I really wanted to win this one.

“I think I was eleventh the first time I came here and I've won here before in 2009. I've always liked this time trial, especially when the weather picks up. It felt horrible but I think it was the same for everyone. We raced this morning really early and it never feels like it's flowing and fresh. Everyone's trying really hard. I knew there was an opportunity to jump up onto the podium as well."

Race and points jersey winner Alexander Kristoff said: "I was not able to win the time trial but I felt that I did a very good time trial. I managed to push the entire way and I am happy.

"This is maybe my best time trial ever. I was a little bit behind (Stijn) Devolder halfway through but I think I did better in the second half on the corners and I took a little time back there.

"I was a little bit scared at the beginning but I managed to keep a good tempo for the ride. This is a big victory, especially since I have not been this good here in the past." 

Stage result

1 Bradley Wiggins Team Sky 0:17:49  
2 Stefan Küng BMC 0:00:10  
3 Alexander Kristoff Katusha 0:00:18  
4 Guillaume Van Keirsbulck Etixx - Quick-Step 0:00:18  
5 Stijn Devolder Trek Factory Racing 0:00:19

General Classification

1 Alexander Kristoff Katusha 12:19:10  
2 Stijn Devolder Trek 0:00:23  
3 Bradley Wiggins Team Sky 0:00:42  
4 Stefan Küng BMC 0:00:50  
5 Sean De Bie Lotto Soudal 0:00:58

Points Classification

1 Alexander Kristoff Team Katusha 58  pts
2 Sacha Modolo Lampre-Merida 27  
3 Stijn Devolder Trek 22  
4 Raymond Kreder Team Roompot 19  
5 Stefan Küng BMC Racing Team 18

Sprints Classification

1 Michael Vingerling Team 3M 9  pts
2 Gerry Druyts Vastgoedservice-Golden Palace 4  
3 Lars Ytting Bak Lotto Soudal 3  
4 Jonas Rickaert Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise 3  
5 Jarl Salomein Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise 3

King Of The Mountains

1 Jarl Salomein Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise 40  pts
2 Michael Reihs Cult Energy Pro Cycling 20  
3 Tim De Troyer Wanty - Groupe Gobert 19  
4 Lars Ytting Bak Lotto Soudal 13  
5 Alexander Kristoff Team Katusha 9  

Team Classification

1 Lotto Soudal 37:00:17  
2 Trek Factory Racing 0:00:45  
3 Etixx - Quick Step 0:00:46  
4 Team Sky 0:00:53  
5 BMC Racing Team 0:01:49