Kjell Carlstrom of Liquigas Wins Paris-Nice Third Stage
SAINT-ETIENNE, France, March 12, 2008 (AFP) - Finland’s Kjell Carlstrom won a sprint finish for the third stage of the Paris-Nice cycling race over 165.5km from Fleurie to here on Wednesday.
Carlstrom, 31, pulled ahead of fellow breakaway rider Clement Lhotellerie in the final stretch to achieve the most important success of his career.
France’s Sylvain Chavanel of Cofidis, who came in 11th at 43s adrift, took the leader’s yellow jersey.
“I didn’t know the French rider (Lhotellerie) with me. In the sprint I stuck to his wheel and I waited as long as possible. It’s better for me to have a short sprint,” explained Liquigas rider Carlstrom.
“I’m very happy with this win, Paris-Nice is an important race,” added the Finn whose best previous result was second in a stage of the 2006 Tour de France.
French rider Pierre Rolland, 21, finished third ahead of Italian Davide Rebellin.
Carlstrom and 22-year-old Frenchman Lhotellerie led a long breakaway from the 8km mark along with Australian Bradley McGee, building up a 12-minute advantage. McGee fell behind on the final Croix-de-Chabouret climb.
“At the beginning of the breakaway, I really hoped that we would go all the way but you’re never sure,” said Carlstrom.
“The team isn’t targetting the overall standings so we have free range for the stages.”
Chavanel failed in his bid for a stage win as he finished in the first pursuing group some 40 seconds behind the leading duo.
But the French rider is confident that this can be his year to finally win the Paris-Nice, heading into Thursday’s 176km fourth stage which takes in the famous Mont Ventoux climb.
The 28-year-old holds a two-second lead on Dutch rider Karsten Kroon in the overall standings with Spaniard Luis Leon Sanchez three seconds off the pace.
“I’m savouring this to the maximum! My legs were on fire at the Croix-de-Chaubouret,” said Chavanel.
“Tomorrow I think I’m capable of being in front. I’ve already been there on the Ventoux. It’s in the Ventoux that it’s going to be decided, but I saw today that there are not many of us for the overall standings.”
Stage 3 Results
1. Kjell Carlstrom (FIN/LIQ) 4hr 39min 14sec
2. Clement Lhotellerie (FRA/SKS) same time
3. Pierre Rolland (FRA/C.A) at 0:43sec
4. Davide Rebellin (ITA/GST) 0:43.
5. Roman Kreuziger (CZE/LIQ) 0:43.
6. Rinaldo Nocentini (ITA/A2R) 0:43.
7. Robert Gesink (NED/RAB) 0:43.
8. Damiano Cunego (ITA/LAM) 0:43.
9. Luis Leon Sanchez (ESP/GCE) 0:43.
10. Gorka Verdugo (ESP/EUS) 0:43.
11. Sylvain Chavanel (FRA/COF) 0:43.
12. Igor Anton (ESP/EUS) 0:43.
13. Yaroslav Popovych (UKR/SIL) 0:43.
14. Maxime Monfort (BEL/COF) 0:46.
15. Christophe Moreau (FRA/AGR) 0:46.
16. Yann Huguet (FRA/COF) 0:46.
17. Simon Spilak (SLO/LAM) 0:49.
18. Alexander Efimkin (RUS/QST) 0:52.
19. Juan Manuel Garate (ESP/QST) 0:52.
20. Karsten Kroon (NED/CSC) 0:52.
Selected:
25. Philippe Gilbert (BEL/FDJ) 3:42.
29. Jerome Pineau (FRA/BTL) 3:46.
43. Cadel Evans (AUS/SIL) 5:11.
46. David Millar (GBR/TSL) 8:04.
59. Sandy Casar (FRA/FDJ) 17:06.
75. Remy Di Gregorio (FRA/FDJ) 17:06.
82. Thor Hushovd (NOR/C.A) 17:06.
95. Frank Schleck (LUX/CSC) 19:36.
106. Stefan Schumacher (GER/GST) 19:36.
107. Cyril Dessel (FRA/A2R) 19:36.
138. David Moncoutie (FRA/COF) 19:36.
150. Markus Eichler (GER/MRM) 20:13.
Retired: Robert Wagner (GER/SKS), Christian Knees (GER/MRM), Mickael Cherel
(FRA/FDJ)
Overall Results
1. Sylvain Chavanel (FRA/COF) 12hr 37min 1min.
2. Luis Leon Sanchez (ESP/GCE) à 0:03.
3. Gorka Verdugo (ESP/EUS) 0:08.
4. Davide Rebellin (ITA/GST) 0:14.
5. Juan Manuel Garate (ESP/QST) 0:18.
6. Yaroslav Popovych (UKR/SIL) 0:19.
7. Rinaldo Nocentini (ITA/A2R) 0:21.
8. Robert Gesink (NED/RAB) 0:21.
9. Karsten Kroon (NED/CSC) 0:22.
10. Alexander Efimkin (RUS/QST) 0:34.
11. Clément Lhotellerie (FRA/SKS) 1:53.
12. Kjell Carlström (FIN/LIQ) 2:24.
13. Maxime Monfort (BEL/COF) 2:44.
14. Simon Spilak (SLO/LAM) 2:44.
15. Igor Anton (ESP/EUS) 2:45.
16. Carlos Barredo (ESP/QST) 2:49.
17. Jérôme Pineau (FRA/BTL) 2:56.
18. Philippe Gilbert (BEL/FDJ) 3:05.
19. Simon Gerrans (AUS/C.A) 3:10.
20. Bram Tankink (NED/RAB) 3:28.
Selected:
30. Christophe Moreau (FRA/AGR) 6:47.
31. Damiano Cunego (ITA/LAM) 6:48.
33. Cadel Evans (AUS/SIL) 7:05.
34. David Millar (GBR/TSL) 7:21.
45. Thor Hushovd (NOR/C.A) 15:53.
67. Stefan Schumacher (GER/GST) 21:18.
69. Frank Schleck (LUX/CSC) 22:10.
111. Sandy Casar (FRA/FDJ) 30:49.
137. Cyril Dessel (FRA/A2R) 41:39.
140. Remy Di Gregorio (FRA/FDJ) 43:51.
146. David Moncoutie (FRA/COF) 49:06.
150. Kevin Ista (BEL/AGR) 53:46.
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