DUTCH SPRINTER DYLAN Groenewegen snatched victory in the third stage of the Tour de France on Sunday, edging Wout van Aert on the line although the Belgian retained the overall race leader’s yellow jersey.
Bike Exchange rider Groenewegen ensured Jumbo’s van Aert finished second for the third time after the 182km stage, the last in Denmark before the race returns to France, with large crowds lining the route in the Jutland region.
Van Aert leads Yves Lampaert atop the overall standings by seven seconds with Tadej Pogacar in third at 14sec. The yellow jersey holder is also top of the sprint points rankings for the green jersey.
“I’m looking forwards to the next week in France,” said Van Aert, who could end up in yellow for a while. “The team have let me go for this, Primoz (Roglic) has his ambitions too and he’s looking great.”
“I always dreamed of wearing the yellow, but I wasn’t expecting these Danish stages to suit me,” he added.
Groenewgen was banned for nine months after causing the crash that almost killed Saturday’s winner Fabio Jakobsen, who spoke emotionally about his long struggle back to fitness after his rookie Tour de France win.
“I’m very happy for Fabio after everything that happened,” said a contrite Groenewegen about the crash at the 2020 Tour of Poland.
“He won yesterday but today was my day,” he said.
Jakobsen said Sunday morning he was still waiting for congratulations from his Quick-Step teammate Mark Cavendish, after the 25-year-old was selected ahead of the Manxman.
Defending champion Tadej Pogacar of UAE Team Emirates retained the white jersey as best under-26-year-old, a day after being involved in a mass crash where he somehow managed to stay on his bike.
“The end was a tough finish, I’m satisfied with my ride. My hand is a bit painful after hitting the barriers, but there’s no stress,” said the Slovenian who admitted that he had no idea about the details of his team transfer back to France.
Magnus Cort Nielsen played the local hero when the 29-year-old from the island of Bornholm made an early solo break and rode 130km out front with a permanent smile as he lapped up a wave of fervent applause, with enthusiastic youngsters running alongside him.
“It was euphoric, an amazing day,” said the EF rider after pulling on the polka dot jersey again having won on all six hills so far.
“The crowds helped me along, I gave it everything, I surpassed myself and so did they.”
After a wall of sound reverberated around Copenhagen on Saturday’s time-trial, vast crowds accompanied the Tour on its following two stages around the rest of the nation of 5.8 million, who took cycling’s showpiece to their hearts and turned out in droves.
Stage four is a 171km flat run from Dunkirk to Calais in the north of France before the race heads through the Alps and Pyrenees and heads back to Paris for its Champs-Elysees finale 24 July.
While I’ve been quick to say he hasn’t impressed me at all in some aspects of his play, no denying he has been a great addition. Carty can be up and down with form and fitness and, save a purple patch by Conor Fitzgerald in the middle of 19/20, has had to play when he could do with a break for physical and mental form. Like Carty was flogged last year when Hawkshaw and Fitz were injured, but there was no real alternative. Having someone of Hanrahan’s level there too is great, and I was delighted when he signed.
He also has strengths that you could question Carty can be weak on. While I critique JJ’s attack-manship, another side of that very coin could argue unlike Carty, who seems to put the whole weight and responsiblity of Connacht’s whole attack on his shoulders, JJ is great in trying to utilise playmakers in the centre and SH. As well as having some days where his boot is almost laser guided.
With all respect to himself and Carty though. Post 2025 Connacht need to have a new 10 making strides. Perhaps Harry West or Sean Naughton (who looks like a superstar) can step up? If not maybe look at the 4th or 5th choice in Leinster? Prendergast, Tector, etc.
@David Hickey: Where is Conor Fitzgerald?