Lobato Wins Tour De Wallonie Third Stage

Last updated : 28 July 2014 By Covsupport News Service

Movistar's Juan Jose Lobato has won the third stage of the Tour De Wallonie.

A day of seven climbs and three sprints on a 174.6km stage from Somme Leuze to Neufchateau saw Gianni Meersman in the yellow jersey after two second places in the opening two stages.

Meersman, who also led the points classification, which did not have a jersey, started the third stage with a five second lead over Giacomo Nizzolo but it was Mondry who took the first sprint. 

Sebastian Turgot of AG2R, de Winter, Juul Jensen and Demoitie got away and were 2.58 clear of the Omega Pharma Quick Step led peloton with 82.2kms remaining on a wet day.

Chris Juul Jensen was first over the climb with 66kms left and was followed by Turgot who sparked an attack which saw Jensen and the AG2R rider put some distance between themselves and de Winter and Demoitie.

On the sixth climb of the day, the peloton split and four riders in Wellens, Kern, Amador and Demoitie tried to get away of the peloton and chase down Juul Jensen and Turgot who were 1.23 ahead with 48.5kms left.

Pablo Lastras Garcia of Movistar took a one second bonus at the second intermediate sprint behind Juul Jensen of Tinkoff Saxo and Turgot after sneaking away from the peloton.

On the final climb of the day, Juul Jensen again went solo with a lead of 1.05 over the peloton.

With 25 kilometres to go, Jensen was ahead by 39 seconds as the race leader Meersman and Stybar came towards the front to stay out of trouble on wet, greasy roads and they finished second and third in the third sprint behind Jensen, who was reeled in with less than twenty kilometres to go.

His team mate Manuel Boaro took over on the front before being joined by Arnaud Courteille of FDJ and Senechal. This trio were eight seconds ahead with just under twelve kilometres to go.

Two kilometres later, that escape was brought back and Zico Waeytens of Topsport, who was leading the sprint points competition at the start of the day, launched a solo attack.

With 5.3kms, BMC's Martin Kohler tried to escape but was immediately shut down by Zdenek Stybar, who had passed Waeytens and went in search of the finish line on his own with 2.6kms to go.

BMC tried to pull him back and he was caught with 800ms to go. it was a three man battle for the line and it was a Movistar rider in JJ Lobato who won the stage in 4.35.20 ahead of Meersman, Dillier, Rue and Laporte, storming down the left hand side to win with ease.

Lobato, took the ten seconds in bonuses with Meersman taking six seconds which keeps him in the yellow jersey.