Tour de France: Alaphilippe wins stage 3

Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-QuickStep) stormed to victory on stage 3 of the Tour de France in Epernay after a powerful solo attack that also netted him the maillot jaune as the race returned to France.

Alaphilippe attacked boldly but decisively with 15 kilometres remaining near the summit of the final climb of the Cote de Mutigny and never looked back. He built up a lead over the final rolling kilometres and held on to win, while Michael Matthews (Team Sunweb) and Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo) came over the line 26 seconds down with a group that contained most of the pre-race favourites.

Overnight leader Mike Teunissen (Jumbo-Visma) was unable to live with the pace on the final set of climbs and was finally dropped on the Cote de Mutigny, but the stage outcome was dominated by Alaphilippe, who stamped his authority over the peloton despite a huge amount of pressure on his shoulders coming into the stage.

Deceuninck-QuickStep had fired blanks in the opening two stages of the race, but stage 3 was perfectly suited to Alaphilippe and his aggressive style of riding. His eventual attack came from the front after his teammates softened up the peloton and dropped a number of the pure sprinters, and when the Frenchman eventually rode away from the front of the group he left everyone else standing. Even Egan Bernal (Team Ineos) a favourite for the overall classification, could not respond when the Frenchman skipped clear.

In a flash, Alaphilippe made contact with Tim Wellens – the last man standing from the early break – but the Belgian had no response when Alaphilippe kicked again at the summit of the final ascent. Over the final 15km, several teams, from Team Ineos to Jumbo-Visma tried to nullify Alaphilippe’s attack, and although they reduced the gap to around 30 seconds inside the final 4km, the Frenchman hung on to take the first yellow jersey of his blossoming career. He sprinted up the final unclassified climb to the finish before unleashing a wild celebration.

Alaphilippe now leads Wout van Aert and Steven Kruijswijk (both Jumbo-Visma) in the overall standings, with defending champion Geraint Thomas (Team Ineos) in seventh overall. Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) and Bernal finished well, however, to put a handful of seconds into Thomas and several other yellow jersey contenders.

Wellens leads the charge

After stage 2 and the team time trial, there was a sense of definition to the overall standings at this year’s Tour de France. For the most part, Sunday’s stage had only created minimal time gaps, but the differences created a sense of calm and stability for the first time in this year’s race.

Little wonder that it took just a few kilometers for the main break to form, with Jumbo-Visma controlling the outcome. They man-marked Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal) for obvious reasons but were willing to allow his teammate Tim Wellens room to maneuver an advantage. He jumped clear with Stephane Rossetto (Cofidis), Yoann Offredo (Wanty-Gobert), Anthony Delaplace (Arkea-Samsic) and Tour debutant Paul Ourselin (Total Direct Energie).

Tony Martin, who looks revitalized in Jumbo Visma colours – dutifully positioned himself on the front of the peloton soon after, and the pattern for the next 150km was set. The break established a lead of over five minutes as the German powerhouse set about holding the leaders at bay.

The status quo remained until the final 60km when the tension in the bunch began to rise. The final hour of racing was peppered with narrow, twisty roads and short but testing climbs, with the fight for positioning near the front was of critical importance. Patrick Bevin (CCC Team), Jack Haig (Mitchelton-Scott) and Steve Cummings (Dimension Data) were all involved in minor falls, while Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale) and Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha-Alpecin) both punctured. 

Wellens attacked with 48km to go and immediately distanced his breakaway companions, and on the Côte de Nanteuil-la-Forêt and Côte d’Hautvillers he held his lead over the peloton at close to two minutes. The remnants of the break were about to be caught while Wellens was holding his own on the Côte de Champillon, but although he looked a class act, his chances of taking the stage looked slim at best. Behind him, Astana and Bora-Hansgrohe upped the pace, with several sprinters, including Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal) unable to handle the pressure. Teunissen was already dangling off the back of the peloton at that point, but on the Mutigny he was distanced for good as the bunch slimmed down to less than 50 riders.

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Alaphilippe powers clear

By then Astana had Wellens in their sights and it looked as though the GC candidates might be brought into play. However, Jakob Fuglsang and the impressive-looking Bernal saved their powder for another day. Alaphilippe had other ideas. While everyone else was on their limits, the Frenchman ghosted to the front before putting in a vicious attack. In seconds he was on Wellens’ wheel, with the Belgian pulling his foot from his pedal close to the summit of the climb. Whether Wellens had suffered a mechanical or was simply exhausted was immediately unclear but he could only watch on as Alaphilippe put in another brutal acceleration.

Michael Woods (EF Education First) and Mikel Landa (Movistar) briefly set up a four-rider counter-attack, but their efforts were shortlived as Alaphilippe continued to add to his advantage. With 8km to go the gap stood at 50 seconds, and despite the Frenchman suffering in the final stages of the race, he had enough in the tank to seal another memorable win for the ever-growing Alaphilippe scrapbook. Few would bet against the world’s number one rider adding to it again before the race reaches Paris.

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Deceuninck-QuickStep4:40:29
2Michael Matthews (Aus) Team Sunweb0:00:26
3Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek-SegafredoRow 2 - Cell 2
4Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) CCC TeamRow 3 - Cell 2
5Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-HansgroheRow 4 - Cell 2
6Matteo Trentin (Ita) Mitchelton-ScottRow 5 - Cell 2
7Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bahrain-MeridaRow 6 - Cell 2
8Xandro Meurisse (Bel) Wanty-GobertRow 7 - Cell 2
9Wout Van Aert (Bel) Team Jumbo-VismaRow 8 - Cell 2
10Thibaut Pinot (Fra) Groupama-FDJRow 9 - Cell 2
11Tiesj Benoot (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 10 - Cell 2
12Egan Bernal (Col) Team IneosRow 11 - Cell 2
13Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Ineos0:00:31
14Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana Pro TeamRow 13 - Cell 2
15Guillaume Martin (Fra) Wanty-GobertRow 14 - Cell 2
16Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 15 - Cell 2
17Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Team Jumbo-VismaRow 16 - Cell 2
18Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 17 - Cell 2
19Rudy Molard (Fra) Groupama-FDJRow 18 - Cell 2
20Michael Woods (Can) EF Education FirstRow 19 - Cell 2
21Rigoberto Uran (Col) EF Education FirstRow 20 - Cell 2
22Giulio Ciccone (Ita) Trek-SegafredoRow 21 - Cell 2
23Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Bahrain-MeridaRow 22 - Cell 2
24Patrick Konrad (Aut) Bora-HansgroheRow 23 - Cell 2
25Adam Yates (GBr) Mitchelton-ScottRow 24 - Cell 2
26Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Dimension DataRow 25 - Cell 2
27Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team SunwebRow 26 - Cell 2
28Emanuel Buchmann (Ger) Bora-HansgroheRow 27 - Cell 2
29Mikel Landa (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 28 - Cell 2
30Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 29 - Cell 2
31Daniel Martin (Irl) UAE Team EmiratesRow 30 - Cell 2
32Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Dimension DataRow 31 - Cell 2
33Warren Barguil (Fra) Arkéa SamsicRow 32 - Cell 2
34Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-SegafredoRow 33 - Cell 2
35Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar TeamRow 34 - Cell 2
36Fabio Felline (Ita) Trek-SegafredoRow 35 - Cell 2
37Richie Porte (Aus) Trek-SegafredoRow 36 - Cell 2
38Enric Mas (Spa) Deceuninck-QuickStepRow 37 - Cell 2
39Maximilian Schachmann (Ger) Bora-HansgroheRow 38 - Cell 2
40David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJRow 39 - Cell 2
41Rui Costa (Por) UAE Team EmiratesRow 40 - Cell 2
42Jack Haig (Aus) Mitchelton-ScottRow 41 - Cell 2
43Tejay Van Garderen (USA) EF Education FirstRow 42 - Cell 2
44Nicolas Roche (Irl) Team SunwebRow 43 - Cell 2
45Jesus Herrada (Spa) Cofidis Solutions CreditsRow 44 - Cell 2
46Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis Solutions CreditsRow 45 - Cell 2
47Rein Taaramäe (Est) Total Direct EnergieRow 46 - Cell 2
48Alexis Vuillermoz (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 47 - Cell 2
49Gregor Mühlberger (Aut) Bora-HansgroheRow 48 - Cell 2
50Luis León Sanchez (Spa) Astana Pro TeamRow 49 - Cell 2
51Marc Soler (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 50 - Cell 2
52George Bennett (NZl) Team Jumbo-VismaRow 51 - Cell 2
53Pello Bilbao (Spa) Astana Pro TeamRow 52 - Cell 2
54Daryl Impey (RSA) Mitchelton-ScottRow 53 - Cell 2
55Sébastien Reichenbach (Swi) Groupama-FDJ0:00:45
56Andrey Amador (CRc) Movistar Team0:00:49
57Alessandro De Marchi (Ita) CCC Team0:01:01
58Michael Valgren Andersen (Den) Dimension Data0:01:04
59Mathias Frank (Swi) AG2R La Mondiale0:01:13
60Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Team IneosRow 59 - Cell 2
61Fabio Aru (Ita) UAE Team Emirates0:01:22
62Wout Poels (Ned) Team Ineos0:01:44
63Dylan Teuns (Bel) Bahrain-MeridaRow 62 - Cell 2
64Mikael Cherel (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 63 - Cell 2
65Gianni Moscon (Ita) Team Ineos0:02:19
66Simon Geschke (Ger) CCC TeamRow 65 - Cell 2
67Simon Clarke (Aus) EF Education First0:03:18
68Jonathan Castroviejo (Spa) Team Ineos0:03:32
69Joseph Rosskopf (USA) CCC Team0:03:42
70Nils Politt (Ger) Katusha-Alpecin0:03:51
71Ilnur Zakarin (Rus) Katusha-AlpecinRow 70 - Cell 2
72Jan Tratnik (Slo) Bahrain-MeridaRow 71 - Cell 2
73Tanel Kangert (Est) EF Education FirstRow 72 - Cell 2
74Natnael Berhane (Eri) Cofidis Solutions CreditsRow 73 - Cell 2
75Andrea Pasqualon (Ita) Wanty-GobertRow 74 - Cell 2
76Julien Bernard (Fra) Trek-SegafredoRow 75 - Cell 2
77Laurens De Plus (Bel) Team Jumbo-Visma0:04:09
78Lennard Kämna (Ger) Team Sunweb0:04:54
79Julien Simon (Fra) Cofidis Solutions CreditsRow 78 - Cell 2
80Mike Teunissen (Ned) Team Jumbo-VismaRow 79 - Cell 2
81Simon Yates (GBr) Mitchelton-Scott0:06:23
82Dries Devenyns (Bel) Deceuninck-QuickStep0:08:28
83Omar Fraile (Spa) Astana Pro TeamRow 82 - Cell 2
84Hugo Houle (Can) Astana Pro Team0:08:35
85Stefan Küng (Swi) Groupama-FDJRow 84 - Cell 2
86Tony Gallopin (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 85 - Cell 2
87Maxime Monfort (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 86 - Cell 2
88Elie Gesbert (Fra) Arkéa SamsicRow 87 - Cell 2
89Rohan Dennis (Aus) Bahrain-MeridaRow 88 - Cell 2
90Sergio Henao (Col) UAE Team Emirates0:08:42
91Søren Kragh Andersen (Den) Team Sunweb0:08:43
92Matej Mohoric (Slo) Bahrain-MeridaRow 91 - Cell 2
93Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Lotto Soudal0:09:26
94Odd Christian Eiking (Nor) Wanty-GobertRow 93 - Cell 2
95Mads Würtz Schmidt (Den) Katusha-AlpecinRow 94 - Cell 2
96Maxime Bouet (Fra) Arkéa SamsicRow 95 - Cell 2
97Nelson Oliveira (Por) Movistar TeamRow 96 - Cell 2
98Lars Bak (Den) Dimension DataRow 97 - Cell 2
99Anthony Roux (Fra) Groupama-FDJRow 98 - Cell 2
100Lilian Calmejane (Fra) Total Direct EnergieRow 99 - Cell 2
101Romain Sicard (Fra) Total Direct EnergieRow 100 - Cell 2
102Nikias Arndt (Ger) Team SunwebRow 101 - Cell 2
103Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto Soudal0:09:32
104Jens Keukeleire (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 103 - Cell 2
105Anthony Perez (Fra) Cofidis Solutions CreditsRow 104 - Cell 2
106Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) Dimension DataRow 105 - Cell 2
107Gorka Izagirre Insausti (Spa) Astana Pro TeamRow 106 - Cell 2
108Pierre Luc Perichon (Fra) Cofidis Solutions CreditsRow 107 - Cell 2
109Yves Lampaert (Bel) Deceuninck-QuickStep0:09:38
110Christophe Laporte (Fra) Cofidis Solutions Credits0:09:43
111Toms Skujins (Lat) Trek-SegafredoRow 110 - Cell 2
112Elia Viviani (Ita) Deceuninck-QuickStep0:10:21
113Marcus Burghardt (Ger) Bora-HansgroheRow 112 - Cell 2
114Daniel Oss (Ita) Bora-HansgroheRow 113 - Cell 2
115Lukas Pöstlberger (Aut) Bora-HansgroheRow 114 - Cell 2
116Jasper Philipsen (Bel) UAE Team Emirates0:11:34
117Jens Debusschere (Bel) Katusha-Alpecin0:13:58
118Ivan Garcia (Spa) Bahrain-MeridaRow 117 - Cell 2
119Yoann Offredo (Fra) Wanty-GobertRow 118 - Cell 2
120Ben King (USA) Dimension DataRow 119 - Cell 2
121Oliver Naesen (Bel) AG2R La MondialeRow 120 - Cell 2
122Frederik Backaert (Bel) Wanty-GobertRow 121 - Cell 2
123Paul Ourselin (Fra) Total Direct EnergieRow 122 - Cell 2
124Koen de Kort (Ned) Trek-SegafredoRow 123 - Cell 2
125Michael Hepburn (Aus) Mitchelton-ScottRow 124 - Cell 2
126Kevin Van Melsen (Bel) Wanty-GobertRow 125 - Cell 2
127Rick Zabel (Ger) Katusha-AlpecinRow 126 - Cell 2
128Damiano Caruso (Ita) Bahrain-MeridaRow 127 - Cell 2
129Matthieu Ladagnous (Fra) Groupama-FDJRow 128 - Cell 2
130Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Dimension DataRow 129 - Cell 2
131Patrick Bevin (NZl) CCC TeamRow 130 - Cell 2
132William Bonnet (Fra) Groupama-FDJRow 131 - Cell 2
133Lukasz Wisniowski (Pol) CCC TeamRow 132 - Cell 2
134Fabien Grellier (Fra) Total Direct EnergieRow 133 - Cell 2
135Michael Schär (Swi) CCC TeamRow 134 - Cell 2
136Stéphane Rossetto (Fra) Cofidis Solutions CreditsRow 135 - Cell 2
137Serge Pauwels (Bel) CCC TeamRow 136 - Cell 2
138Carlos Verona (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 137 - Cell 2
139Luke Durbridge (Aus) Mitchelton-ScottRow 138 - Cell 2
140Imanol Erviti (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 139 - Cell 2
141Alex Dowsett (GBr) Katusha-AlpecinRow 140 - Cell 2
142Marco Haller (Aut) Katusha-AlpecinRow 141 - Cell 2
143Christopher Juul Jensen (Den) Mitchelton-ScottRow 142 - Cell 2
144Luke Rowe (GBr) Team IneosRow 143 - Cell 2
145Caleb Ewan (Aus) Lotto SoudalRow 144 - Cell 2
146Niki Terpstra (Ned) Total Direct EnergieRow 145 - Cell 2
147José Gonçalves (Por) Katusha-AlpecinRow 146 - Cell 2
148Alberto Bettiol (Ita) EF Education FirstRow 147 - Cell 2
149Jasper De Buyst (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 148 - Cell 2
150Sven Erik Bystrøm (Nor) UAE Team EmiratesRow 149 - Cell 2
151Chad Haga (USA) Team SunwebRow 150 - Cell 2
152Dylan van Baarle (Ned) Team IneosRow 151 - Cell 2
153Vegard Stake Laengen (Nor) UAE Team EmiratesRow 152 - Cell 2
154Anthony Turgis (Fra) Total Direct EnergieRow 153 - Cell 2
155Florian Vachon (Fra) Arkéa SamsicRow 154 - Cell 2
156Kevin Ledanois (Fra) Arkéa SamsicRow 155 - Cell 2
157Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) EF Education FirstRow 156 - Cell 2
158Alexander Kristoff (Nor) UAE Team EmiratesRow 157 - Cell 2
159Niccolò Bonifazio (Ita) Total Direct EnergieRow 158 - Cell 2
160Amael Moinard (Fra) Arkéa SamsicRow 159 - Cell 2
161André Greipel (Ger) Arkéa SamsicRow 160 - Cell 2
162Alexis Gougeard (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 161 - Cell 2
163Anthony Delaplace (Fra) Arkéa SamsicRow 162 - Cell 2
164Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) Team Jumbo-VismaRow 163 - Cell 2
165Tony Martin (Ger) Team Jumbo-VismaRow 164 - Cell 2
166Michael Mørkøv (Den) Deceuninck-QuickStepRow 165 - Cell 2
167Magnus Cort Nielsen (Den) Astana Pro TeamRow 166 - Cell 2
168Aime De Gendt (Bel) Wanty-GobertRow 167 - Cell 2
169Maximiliano Richeze (Arg) Deceuninck-QuickStepRow 168 - Cell 2
170Stephen Cummings (GBr) Dimension DataRow 169 - Cell 2
171Amund Grøndahl Jansen (Nor) Team Jumbo-VismaRow 170 - Cell 2
172Benoit Cosnefroy (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 171 - Cell 2
173Tom Scully (NZl) EF Education FirstRow 172 - Cell 2
174Roger Kluge (Ger) Lotto SoudalRow 173 - Cell 2
175Cees Bol (Ned) Team SunwebRow 174 - Cell 2
176Kasper Asgreen (Den) Deceuninck-QuickStep0:20:26
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Sprint 1 - Dizy-Le-Gros km. 102
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Paul Ourselin (Fra) Total Direct Energie20pts
2Yoann Offredo (Fra) Wanty-Gobert17Row 1 - Cell 3
3Stéphane Rossetto (Fra) Cofidis Solutions Credits15Row 2 - Cell 3
4Anthony Delaplace (Fra) Arkéa Samsic13Row 3 - Cell 3
5Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto Soudal11Row 4 - Cell 3
6Elia Viviani (Ita) Deceuninck-QuickStep10Row 5 - Cell 3
7Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe9Row 6 - Cell 3
8Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bahrain-Merida8Row 7 - Cell 3
9Michael Matthews (Aus) Team Sunweb7Row 8 - Cell 3
10Andrea Pasqualon (Ita) Wanty-Gobert6Row 9 - Cell 3
11Michael Mørkøv (Den) Deceuninck-QuickStep5Row 10 - Cell 3
12Daniel Oss (Ita) Bora-Hansgrohe4Row 11 - Cell 3
13Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Dimension Data3Row 12 - Cell 3
14Tony Martin (Ger) Team Jumbo-Visma2Row 13 - Cell 3
15Kasper Asgreen (Den) Deceuninck-QuickStep1Row 14 - Cell 3
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Sprint 2 - Épernay km. 215
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Deceuninck-QuickStep30pts
2Michael Matthews (Aus) Team Sunweb25Row 1 - Cell 3
3Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek-Segafredo22Row 2 - Cell 3
4Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) CCC Team19Row 3 - Cell 3
5Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe17Row 4 - Cell 3
6Matteo Trentin (Ita) Mitchelton-Scott15Row 5 - Cell 3
7Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bahrain-Merida13Row 6 - Cell 3
8Xandro Meurisse (Bel) Wanty-Gobert11Row 7 - Cell 3
9Wout Van Aert (Bel) Team Jumbo-Visma9Row 8 - Cell 3
10Thibaut Pinot (Fra) Groupama-FDJ7Row 9 - Cell 3
11Tiesj Benoot (Bel) Lotto Soudal6Row 10 - Cell 3
12Egan Bernal (Col) Team Ineos5Row 11 - Cell 3
13Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Ineos4Row 12 - Cell 3
14Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana Pro Team3Row 13 - Cell 3
15Guillaume Martin (Fra) Wanty-Gobert2Row 14 - Cell 3
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Mountain 1 (Cat. 4) Côte De Nanteuil-La-Forêt km. 173
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto Soudal1
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Mountain 2 (Cat. 3) Côte D'Hautvillers km. 185.5
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto Soudal2pts
2Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team1Row 1 - Cell 3
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Mountain 3 (Cat. 3) Côte De Champillon km. 190
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto Soudal2pts
2Xandro Meurisse (Bel) Wanty-Gobert1Row 1 - Cell 3
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Mountain 4 (Cat. 3) Côte De Mutigny km. 199
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto Soudal2pts
2Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Deceuninck-QuickStep1Row 1 - Cell 3
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