technology blogs: 2011 Tour of Luxembourg: Stage 3 Results

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

2011 Tour of Luxembourg: Stage 3 Results - Bike World News

Image (c) Graham Watson, courtesy of Team Sky

Davide Appollonio claimed his first victory in Team Sky colours when winning stage three of the Tour of Luxembourg.

The Italian sprinter, who celebrated his 22nd birthday on Thursday, has had an outstanding first season with a succession of podium places, the most notable of which was his second place to Mark Cavendish on stage 12 of the Giro d?Italia last month.

The win he deserved came his way at the end of the 185 kilometres stage from Eschweiler to Roost following another fine lead-out from his teammates.

Appollonio finished it off perfectly as he held off stage one winner Denis Galimzyanov (Katusha) and Micka?l Delage (FDJ).

There was a worrying moment straight afterwards when Appollonio crashed into the barriers beyond the line but thankfully he emerged unscathed.

Faith rewarded

?I?m so happy to get my first victory this year for the team. I?ve had a few seconds and thirds so I was really hoping for a win and today it happened,? said a delighted Appollonio shortly after taking the plaudits on the podium.

?After the Giro I had a little bit of a rest afterwards but I kept my condition and then the team called me into the Luxembourg squad ? I?m pleased to reward their faith in me and tomorrow we?ll do everything we can to try and get the victory again.?

Sports Director Marcus Ljungqvist was quick to praise Appollonio ? and the team as a whole ? when we caught up with him, saying: ?That was very nice to see and I?m pleased for Davide. He?s had a few second places so it was good for him to get his first win for the team. Once again the rest of the guys committed 100% to help him and it paid off.?

Ljungqvist also provided some detail on what happened immediately after the finish, explaining: ?Just after the finish line it was pretty tight and there was virtually nowhere for Davide to go; he hit the barriers but he?s alright and it wasn?t anything too serious.?

Ljungqvist also revealed that Appollonio?s fellow sprinter Greg Henderson was forced out of the race around 30km into the stage, saying of the Kiwi: ?Greg had a bad night, his stomach wasn?t good and it was pretty early when he started to suffer so we pulled him out with an eye on the upcoming races.

?I?m sure that was the right decision hopefully he should be back on track in a couple of days and on course for the Tour de Suisse. Another hard day today wouldn?t have been a good idea.?

Repeat bid

With the group coming home together it means that Leopard Trek?s Linus Gerdemann maintains his slender two seconds advantage on the general classification over Alexandre Geniez (Skil ? Shimano), with a further second back to Tony Gallopin (Cofidis) in third.

Gerdemann will defend that lead in Sunday?s final stage which sees the riders cover 152.1km from Mersch back to Luxembourg City.

And looking ahead to the last day, Ljungqvist added: ?Normally the final stage here comes down to a bunch sprint but we have a couple of steep climbs before then and it?s not easy before the circuits.

?We?ll see what happens but if it comes down to a sprint then we?ll give it 100% again for Davide.?

Stage three had seen three riders escape from the peloton and open up a gap of just under four minutes but the main bunch always the situation under control.

The trio?s advantage had been whittled down to around a minute heading into the final 30km and three laps of a gently undulating circuit around Roost which rounded off the day?s action.

Anthony Geslin (FDJ) was the last of the breakaway riders to be swept up and it meant the field was back together on the final lap as the teams attempted to set things up for their sprinters.

A brief rain shower threatened to complicate matters but it was dry again by the finish as Appollonio surged to the head of affairs to land the spoils.

Stage 3 Brief Results: