Gilbert wins Tour de la Provence stage 3

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The 2012 world champion Philippe Gilbert (Deceuninck-Quick Step) claimed the 75th victory of his pro career as he out-sprinted the remnants of the peloton on the Paul-Ricard car racing circuit to win stage 3 of the Tour de la Provence. Toms Skujins (Trek-Segafredo) finished second, with Tony Gallopin (AG2R-La Mondiale), suffering from illness and on antibiotics, taking third. The results moved Gallopin into third overall, with Thibtaut Pinot second. Despite a shortage of teammates, Astana's Gorka Izagirre retained the lead ahead of the final stage.

"It was a pretty fast sprint coming after a tight curve," Gilbert said.

"I managed to get a good position and I launched my sprint 120 metres before the end. It was the right timing. I came to the Tour de La Provence to add racing miles, that's why I didn't try anything before and put all my eggs in the basket of a sprint finish. I knew I had a big chance of winning in that situation."

In the battle for GC, Simon Clarke of EF Education First won the first intermediate sprint and three seconds time bonus on the first passage in front of the grandstands after 23km of racing, after which the breakaway of the day could take shape. It comprised of Matteo Moschetti and Michael Gogl (Trek-Segafredo) who won the combativity prize of the day, Quentin Jauregui (AG2R-La Mondiale), Kasper Asgreen (Deceuninck-Quick Step), Matthias Brändle (Israel Cycling Academy), Dries De Bondt (Corendon-Circus), Ramunas Navardauskas (Delko-Marseille-Provence), Anthony Maldonado (St-Michel-Auber 93) and Lennard Kämna (Sunweb). Their maximum advantage was 3:30 with 55km to go.

Groupama-FDJ smashed the peloton in the five successive ascents of the côte de Brûlats. "They were up there with three riders and they massacred me," Izagirre said.

"I'm glad I managed to save myself but there will be another rider to watch with Gallopin tomorrow. It'll be another very hard day."

Pinot attacked on several occasions. Last year's Vuelta a España race leader for four days, Rudy Molard, was the last one to try and go solo on the flat section proceeding the finish. Twenty-two riders eventually regrouped before the sprint but Gilbert, who was always at the front, maintained his superiority. Gallopin could thank his teammates Mikaël Chérel and Axel Domont for bringing him back on after suffering in the hills.

"I was again at the limit but experience and a great team helped me to contest the victory but I was more thinking of the time bonus today." Gallopin said.

"Sprinters are impatient before tomorrow's stage but I'll try to go for the different sprints and target the overall victory."

"In a cycling season, there's always the question on when to get the first win," Gilbert added. "A victory delivers confidence, rest and serenity. It's my first one on a car racing circuit but I knew Le Castellet for having trained here with BMC before a team time trial world championship. I'm delighted to leave it with the sweetness of a victory. Now I can quietly eye Omloop Het Nieuswblad and Paris-Nice before the classics."

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