Stephane Auge of Cofidis Still Leads In Dunkirk As Thor Hushovd Beaten At Line
SAINT-QUENTIN, France, May 8, 2008 (AFP) - Belgian Kenny De Haes of the
Topsport team claimed victory in the third stage of the Four Days of Dunkirk
race Thursday after upsetting Norwegian sprint ace Thor Hushovd at the line.
Frenchman Stephane Auge, of Cofidis, retained the race leader’s jersey
after the 193km stage between Le Cateau-Cambresis and here.
Cofidis, and the Skil team of the race’s best climber Clement Lhotellerie,
were forced to work throughout most of Thursday’s stage to protect their
respective jerseys.
An early three-man breakaway went off after just 12km, but their lead was
allowed to hit a maximum of just 4min 45sec, at the 75km mark, before the
peloton upped the pace decisively.
They were caught with 11km to race, and in the final bunch sprint De Haes
surged ahead of his rivals after Gert Steegmans, the much-fancied Belgian
winner of Wednesday’s sprint, failed to produce the required speed.
Hushovd, of Credit Agricole, finished second with former under-23 world
champion Gerald Ciolek, of High Road, in third.
The Four Days of Dunkirk is a six-day race which culminates with Sunday’s
128km race around Dunkirk.
Four Days of Dunkirk cycling results
Results in the 193km third stage of the Four Days of Dunkirk cycling race between Le Cateau-Cambresis and Saint-Quentin on Thursday:
3rd stage
1. Kenny De Haes (BEL) Topsport Vlaanderen 4hr 38min 34sec, 2. Thor Hushovd
(NOR) same time, 3. Gerald Ciolek (GER) s.t., 4. Jean-Patrick Nazon (FRA) s.t., 5. Borut Bozic (SLO) s.t., 6. Jose Joaquin Gil Rojas (ESP) s.t., 7. Koen De Kort (NED) s.t., 8. Sebastian Siedler (GER) s.t., 9. Gianni Meersman (BEL) s.t., 10. Jurgen Roelandts (BEL) s.t.
Overall
1. Stephane Auge (FRA) Cofidis 13hr 49min 45sec, 2. Clement Lhotellerie
(FRA) 19sec behind, 3. Kenny De Haes (BEL) 2:44, 4. Rony Martias (FRA) 2:45, 5. Florian Vachon (FRA) 2:47, 6. Thor Hushovd (NOR) 2:48, 7. Jean-Patrick Nazon (FRA) 2:50, 8. Gerald Ciolek (GER) s.t., 9. Sebastian Siedler (GER) s.t., 10. Anthony Roux (FRA) 2:51
Share/Bookmark: 
Categories: News, Races, Team Cofidis
Tags:
Leave a Reply